People often wonder if they'll live 290. That's a long time. If you live 250 you've had some pretty good young years. If you live 270 you've had a good length life and longer than average in most of the world. 290 might be a little bit on the long side, but personally I'm fine with that. Maybe we can even try and look 50 at 90. Now there's a challenge. Easily one of the worst highways imaginable in the history of the world, this is 290. I really don't like driving on 290 from the 610 all the way up to the distant suburbs. Once you get past Cypress, it becomes absolutely fine because at that point you're talking about going out into the countryside, and it's the Houston segment which has been under construction for what seems like the last 50 years that is a big problem, and I avoid it whenever I can. It's not as dangerous as 59 in terms of crash volume, but it's every bit as annoying and backed up, much like 45 north out of H-town. read more

Highway 290 - Not too well kept under the hwy then - Transportation Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Getting around Houston can be tough. Traffic, wild drivers, bumper-to-bumper traffic going 75 mph. Houston often has short entrance ramps, so you gotta floor it as soon as you get on the road. But this roadway is wide, big lanes, and when I went over a weekend, there was little to no traffic! It was nice! My main complaint was that when I went, many of the entrance ramps were closed for some reason, making the commute even longer. My favorite thing about this roadway is that they have giant pictures of Texas, with bluebonnets in front of it along the bridges and overpasses! It looks nice! They could always raise the speed limit along here, since nobody seems to follow it. read more

A review about a freeway? Why not, it's different than a review about food but guess what a lot of people have to use to get to their favorite places? Yes, you got it right, a helicopter! Well, unless you have one you'll have to utilize this major artery that spans East and West on the NorthWest side of Houston. This is a multi purpose structure. It doubles as a parking lot around 7 a.m., noon and again around 5 pm, pick your poison. If you are lucky enough you'll even get a glimpse of two of favorite yelpers Carola M and Greg "PikaCamaro" F idling with 1,000 + happy faces. This also remains as a stable employment area for construction workers since there is a non public disclosure that this freeway is no longer allowed to remain finished during the lifetime of human existence. If one project should ever become close to completion then it is mandatory to begin months before disclosure that another project somewhere up and down this road to excite you in your commuting pleasures. Pick a good radio station and keep it there because it's going to be a long ride up and down here folks. read more

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I want to dedicate this updated review to Greg F. More info is at the end. Since my initial review 2 years ago, my feeling remains the same today. According to www.my290.com few months ago, it's over half completed. I thought I could tolerate the inconvenience of narrowed lanes, constant flooding on nearby streets, detours, closed feeder roads and congestion on Highway 290. I see the feeder road on eastbound already started. Most of the constructions were done on westbound side first. I've seen mess on top of mess. My commute doesn't involve that side of highway. So, I can't report the progress. However, eastbound is being cleared. Greg F is a long time Yelper with 663 check ins. Because our workdays and hours are exactly the same. I had many fun conversations about Highway 290 on Facebook at night. One of his favorite bands is Pet Shop Boys. I began to listen to the songs and thinking about him as I traveling down Highway 290. Rest in peace, my friend. (9/24/16) read more

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I am so grateful to have Hwy290 as my transportation route to home. I can always trust that it will be there every time I need to use it. The pavement is on spot and it doesn't come up when you drive on it. The lanes are marked with white lines and some are new for not so easier view. So be very careful as with some areas especially near Jones were you can see both the new lines and the old lines so you can easily find yourself driving in the middle of the freeway in no lane at all. Oh how I love that there is an option to take the HOV lane and if it's only yourself you can use it as a toll with your EZ tag. It was such a great idea for the freeway to be designed so that the 1 lane HOV is used going to and from depending on the time of the day. I really hope the designer is now completely drug free as it takes up more space on the freeway with those 2 cement walls vs 1 smack in the middle and create a lane on both sides like it is in Katy. (Note to future designing: Don't do drugs.) I have no hate for Hwy 290 as it's my trusted source of transportation to and from Cypress. Thanks for being there 290 I really appreciate you as you grow in the coming years to make it an even more trusted experience. 290 please do not take any offense for me only being able to give you 1 star. Don't take it personally because it's not you that is the problem. The problem is every single driver who drives likes its wet when it's sunny and dry, but drives like it's dry when it's rainy and wet. The driver who takes the HOV lane only to go 40 MPH when it's clearly marked 65 MPH. The driver who drives in the far left lane to only go the minimum speed limit and then brakes every time they think the wall is moving. The driver that's on their cell phone texting and swerving and probably complaining about how bad kids are in a restaurant instead of paying attention to the road. Yes, that one star is for them all. You go 290. Keep doing what you do. But please create a sink hole for the bad drivers who get in my way and fill it back up so I can whisk on through. With love and respect, Rick F. read more

Highway 290 - The morning of 9/19/2013. An 18 wheeler turned over and its front end landed in the HOV. - Transportation Near Me - Houston, Texas

Houston traffic is horrible and there are idiot drivers every where. I know that every highway there is traffic but 290 has the worst traffic I have seen. What did I get myself into when we moved in the Northwest crossing area. We didn't think it would be that bad, but boy were we wrong. To get back to my house everyday from work takes me an hour or hour and thirty minutes and my work is in the upper Kirby area. Without traffic takes 10 to 15 minutes. It is always crowded it is unbelievable so I had to learn how to take the streets and an alternative route. It all depends on the day but as soon as I get on 290 from 610 I immediately have to think what exit and route I should take to make it home quicker. There are idiot drivers every where but for some reason all of them come on highway 290. There is tail gating, cutting you off, going on the shoulder, and mainly a lot of road rage. My advise is to stay away from this highway as much as possible unfortunately I am right on 290 and hollister, but for everyone else take an alternative route. read more

Highway 290 - Traffic 290 - Transportation Near Me - Houston, Texas

Only 1 lane open on this lovely St. Patty's day. We have been sitting in this for over 30 minutes and have moved probably 2 miles. This freeway has been under construction for years and doesn't seem to be anywhere near done. GET IT TOGETHER! read more

Possibly the worst highway in Houston! It's been under construction for as long as I've been in Houston (2008). The lanes are super narrow, and they keep closing and changing exits. Some exits don't even have signs for street names and some don't even have acceleration room. It's horrible to drive on. When will construction be completed?? read more

This highway is one the the worst in the Houston area. It's been under construction for almost a decade and I don't believe it'll be done by the next decade. It's obvious that they screwed up when planning out this highway; instead of doing it in sections, they decided to rip up 20+ miles of it and start from scratch. They should've done what was done on 45 South. That project had a similar scope and started 3-4 years after this started. They've been done for almost 2 years now. AVOID AT ALL COSTS read more

This place has been under construction for like what 10 years now? Avoid at all costs unless you NEED to take it to go to Austin. Even then, just take I-10. I got stuck on 290 because there was 3-way accident blocking all three lanes. There is no shoulder to pass on so not even the emergency vehicles could get to them since they got stuck on the on-ramp. They had to call a second set of emergency responders to get on site. I sat in my car for over an hour. Some people got out and played some music, but I had to pee really bad. Thank god I had that bottle with me... read more

This is the worst freeway in Houston. I don't understand with as big as this city is, it only has TWO highways that go east and west! And they decide to work on both at the same time! Constant delays and accidents Bc people don't pay attention to what they are doing. There's no detour routes to back streets. If you miss your exit, you have to drive another 2 miles before you can make a u turn. It's been under construction for the last 8 years, and there's no signs of 290 being completed for another 2-3 years. We should think about suing the city for all the delays and accidents that happen on this highway. read more

This is the most horrible contraction in the world. I always stuck in traffic. So, I lost my job. My car get broken by unsafe traffic sign. Contraction stones broke my windshield twice. My traffic ticket get double because contraction zone while no worker was there in a raining day. All exit and entrance are blocked at my neighbor. read more

Wow, just wow. A review based on a freeway!?? Sure, why not! But I don't frequent too far into this highway, since I don't live in the spring area, but I do take it on occasion when picking up aunt from work. From what I know, this highway has been in construction for a pretty long time now, at least 4-5 years?? That's very odd, considering imo how quick Houston workers usually are, at least compared to San Antonio workers when I lived there. I usually venture around 610 and 290, and I can see the construction still there, I hope it can be finished soon, though I don't see it happening anytime this year. I'd use other ways to get downtown if you're in spring/cypress or any other place in the general area 290 passes through. read more

Highway 290 - Transportation Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Idiots. Idiots everywhere. Sadly, they are everywhere here. But its really not the freeway's fault -- its just crowded!! This freeway is OLD -- so old that the concrete is cracking everywhere and some of the lanes are just pathetic. Thankfully, Texas is giving this freeway a new face lift -- and it needs it! Its going to cost more than a fortune to fix this, but it needs to get done. Until then, watch out for the bad freeway, rough ride and yes, the idiot drivers. read more

One of the worst highways in Houston. No matter what time of the day it's full of traffic. With more and more construction planned this seems to be a problem that is just going to grow. The exits are far so if you happen to get stuck behind a bad wreck or some construction, expect to be stuck for a while. read more

I think the name says enough. Traffic is terrible, all this construction needs to hurry up and my dear Houstonians are rude. That is all.

If the Highway was a Monday this would be it! Right now it is just the pits due to all the construction. Lots of things are closed at night and it's hard to get to some businesses. There are 2 entrance ramps right now with no acceleration lane and there are accidents there ALL THE TIME! Houston means good to plan for expansion but they are awful at planning during construction. I try to avoid 290 80% of the time. Take Hempstead for now. read more

Highway 290 - They aren't kidding. - Transportation Near Me - Houston, Texas

It's years later and the decrepit old lady has been given a multi-zillion dollar facelift! It took years of congested construction, changing lanes and exits, and drivers that seemed to think "construction zone" menas "accelerate more and drive using your anus". Shoulders! On-ramps with acceleration lanes! Signs that tell about exits that are more than 100 feet from the exit! Shoulders! More room! It's like she's been given an arterial roto-rootering. Still, the growth in her outer regions threaten the viability of these changes, and like a hyper-muscled bodybuilder there's only so big you can get before your bloated belly and over-stressed organs pop. The changes don't solve the frequently awful driving that I see on a daily basis, and it actually appears to encourage even more of the speeding pre-facelift that makes Houston highways some of the most accident-prone in the nation. read more

Used to drive this gem every single day from Cypress, near the outlet mall, down to the heights. F this highway. F it. It is not that the quality of the roads are horrible, as I have lived in Louisiana and experienced the worst of the worst, but rather that I do not feel 290 should even get to bear the name highway. It is more of just a construction worker's playland because EVERY SINGLE TIME I TAKE THIS ROAD I AM SITTING IN SOME SORT OF CONSTRUCTION. Sometimes I get really excited because I make it almost the whole way to my parents house clear of traffic on a Sunday afternoon & then BAM, right when I hit that outlet mall exit, I am backed up to the Buc-ees out there. It is ridiculous. The road never fails to disappoint me. TIPS: Avoid high traffic areas, and take the feeder roads if you want to sit in the same amount of traffic, but move at a more inconsistent, traffic light-based pace. Stay in the right most lanes when you enter Jersey Village, and then move to the left after you pass 1960. These lanes move the quickest in the afternoons outbound. Inbound in the mornings, there are no tips besides make it to work without witnessing a wreck, flat tire or construction & you know your day is about to be REAL GOOD. Safe travels on the 290...if I could move my parent's house somewhere that I did not have to ever look at 290 again, I would. #290hategamestrong read more

I stayed with family off Barker Cypress & 290 for months and commuted downtown everyday, before I realized I had no patience left. None. Gone. All of my patience had evaporated, as quickly as my gas money, and melted onto the pavement along with the joy and laughter from the other parked drivers, as they parked their cars on 290 for two hours watching their fuel gauges get closer and closer to E, and feeling their bladders closer and closer to F. One time I was in a pinch and had no choice but to drive from Midtown to Barker Cypress during rush hour. With strong vigor, I gripped the steering wheel and before I knew it, I had listened to TWO one-hour podcasts. Granted, there were probably more optimal times to make that trip... maybe between 3:30 AM-4 AM I may have not hit traffic. Finally, I had had enough. I scrounged my money together and got a house closer to downtown. What was only a few short months taking 290 as my main commute, felt like a long and bitter eternity. My hat goes off to my family who has lived far off 290 for years, and many of them work downtown. How do they do it? I'm not sure. Perhaps they've become calloused. I say this to let you know that if this is your situation, its doable, because they've done it for years and they're still alive and breathing. You are not consigned to a life of misery, so long as you have a bag of clothes in your car at all times in case it either a) floods or b) you had a long day/evening and you just need to stay in town because watching paint dry on a wall would yield more joy than spending 2 hours getting home. If you haven't already gathered, the traffic is horrendous. What might be worse, however, is the highway's general lack of safety. There are long, LONG, stretches of two lane highway (or even one lane during construction) with NO SHOULDERS. NONE. What happens if you get a flat tire? Welp, sorry for the 2,000 cars lined up behind you but I guess whats another 5 hours parked. What if an ambulance needs to get down the highway? What if you run out of gas? What if you need to swerve into the shoulder? Nothing. Nothing happens because there is no escape. These are questions I chewed over in my head everyday while parked on this long stretch of pavement, concrete barriers, billboards, exhaust fumes and lost time. Now, whenever I need to get out to Cypress or 290, depending on the time of day, I'll take 43rd until it turns into Clay Rd. Or Hempstead for miles. Or I simply just won't go. Also, here's a relevant shirt-- https://www.click2houston.com/news/finish-290-t-shirt-designer-voices-us-290-driver-angst read more

Listen, this is the WORST HIGHWAY EVER. They do construction just to do construction. I been here 7 years and its STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION?!?! Avoid it and save your tires the pressure. read more

Don't come here its a death trap. I've seen a 3 car collision & burst into flames. 290 sucks

This traffic is ridiculous and all these damn lanes blocked and no one working!!!!!! Why have all the damn lanes blocked if your crew ain't working read more

Highway 290 - Transportation Near Me - Houston, Texas

I would give 290 a negative rating if I could. Incredibly dangerous. Lane changes for construction all the time. They don't do a good job of erasing the old lanes so it's very confusing and causes accidents. 18 wheelers should not be allowed on it. The lanes aren't even big enough to fit an F250 comfortably. Can't fit 2 18 wheelers next to each other, but they try to do it all the time. I don't understand how this freeway is even legal?! It's a death trap and I moved to a different side of town just so I rarely have to use 290. read more

Almost 9 years of construction work and 290 no where near done. Absolutely no accountability on the government side nor for the construction companies. People in charge of the project should be fired. read more

Very poor road.. Not sure if this is being completed by a traveling construction company or someone else, doesn't seem like work has been done in the decade+ it's been worked on. Narrow and dangerous road. read more

Highway 290 is the best place to get real-life practical driving experience in Houston. A++++ Highly Recommended! read more

i hate this freeway. i try to avoid it at all costs. funny thing, the further north on 290 you go, the more douchebag drivers there are. tailgaters? check. hi-beam flickers? check. people going dangerously slower than speed limit? check. swerving cars b/c of stupid people on their cell phones? check. i was already going about 20+ over the speed limit, and this douche in his flashy ride tailgated the CRAP out of me. he then proceeded to hi-beam and bully me several times to go faster/change lanes. i'm pushing 85 on a 65. you and i probably deserve speeding tickets. so piss off a-hole! I am warning ALL of you who follow this irritating practice, TAILGATE ME AND I WILL INTENTIONALLY SLOW DOWN TO JUST PISS YOU OFF. ooohhh and to that beautiful polished red audi roadster that nearly blindly hit me AND cut me off on the eldridge/west rd exit (they didn't even exit, they switched into the exit lane, then swerved out almost hitting someone else!), i hope you learn before you unintentionally kill someone on the road with your reckless behavior. people always boast "it won't happen to me" and boast about their reckless driving, but hey, maybe you'll be the next one pushing daisies. check this out: http://www.howwedrive.com/2011/03/11/infographic-traffic/ so take a good study at this chart and lets hope for a better tomorrow on our roadways as people begin to understand why traffic happens! *taken from chartporn.org *and this interesting book called "How we Drive" by Tom Vanderbilt should be studied. read more

I hate traffic!!!!!!! Especially the morning time that's when everybody's grumpy won't let you over in rude your butt cause your not going fast enough but the car in front of you is the one causing the problem read more

This is by far my favorite freeway if I want to be frustrated and annoyed at life. Perfect place to take your whiney children if you want to hear hours of, "are we there yet?" as you're driving along that stretch of 290 at 3 mph from Mambo's Seafood restaurant to Beltway 8. You can also test your driving skills as you maneuver through those narrow lanes as your tires are inches away from being slashed when driving next to those Houston slab mobiles with their 2 feet long machetes attached to their wheels. It's definitely a must see when driving through Houston. And if you missed it this time around, no need to worry. It will still be under construction for years to come. read more