Allen Parkway
Encyclopedia
Allen Parkway is an arterial road west of Downtown Houston, Texas
. It has a distance of approximately 2.3 miles (3.7 km), running from Interstate 45
west to Shepherd Drive, where it becomes Kirby
Drive. Originally known as Buffalo Parkway, it was later named after John Kirby Allen
and Augustus Chapman Allen
, the founders of Houston.
and closely follows the south bank of Buffalo Bayou
. Memorial Drive
, another limited-access parkway, closely follows the north bank of the bayou. Allen Parkway passes under Studemont Street/Montrose Boulevard, Waugh Drive, and Shepherd Drive. At the Waugh Drive and Studemont/Montrose interchanges, which have exit and entrance ramps and feeder roads
on each side, Allen Parkway is below grade. The south side (eastbound) has continuous feeder roads, the north side (westbound) has discontinuous feeder roads. Access is not controlled at Dunlavy Street, where traffic to or from Allen Parkway can cross the median. Also, there is a stoplight at Taft Street for eastbound traffic, which is a Continuous Green T-intersection.
because of the numerous curving entrance and exit ramps. Motorists traveling eastbound at the eastern terminus can exit to Clay Street, Dallas Street, I-45 northbound, or I-45 southbound. The merge onto I-45 South is known by long-time Houston residents as one of the most difficult merges in the Houston area.
Motorists wishing to travel westbound on Allen Parkway can enter via Walker Street, Lamar Street, or by way of an entrance ramp which collects traffic from Sabine Street, and I-45 northbound and southbound. The eastbound feeder ends at West Dallas Street. A portion of the roadway also used to be known as "The Deathtrap" because of an odd number of travel lanes and bridge supports for a railroad positioned in the middle of the road.
caused Buffalo Bayou to overtop its banks and flood the entire parkway, in some places, to a depth of eight feet. Even the KHOU-TV
television studios, at a slightly higher elevation than Allen Parkway, were flooded. Most of Allen Parkway is more than 30 feet (9 m) above the normal level of Buffalo Bayou. However, the level of the bayou during the storm was more than 30 feet (9.1 m) above normal.
Houston Marathon
.
There are several rest area exits along the north side of the parkway which provide motorists with access to the park. Concerts are also held on the south side of the bayou
, next to Allen Parkway, including the official City of Houston Fourth of July fireworks
celebration and concert. Also, the annual Houston Art Car Parade
is located on the eastern half of Allen Parkway.
Downtown Houston
Downtown Houston is the largest business district of Houston, Texas, United States. Downtown Houston, the city's central business district, contains the headquarters of many prominent companies. There is an extensive network of pedestrian tunnels and skywalks connecting the buildings of the district...
. It has a distance of approximately 2.3 miles (3.7 km), running from Interstate 45
Interstate 45
Interstate 45 is an intrastate Interstate Highway located entirely within the U.S. state of Texas. It connects the cities of Dallas and Houston, continuing southeast from Houston to Galveston over the Galveston Causeway to the Gulf of Mexico...
west to Shepherd Drive, where it becomes Kirby
Upper Kirby
Upper Kirby is a commercial district in Houston, Texas, United States.Upper Kirby contains many businesses, including restaurants. Upper Kirby is east of the Greenway Plaza, southwest of Neartown, north of the city of West University Place, and south of River Oaks.Upper Kirby is considered to be in...
Drive. Originally known as Buffalo Parkway, it was later named after John Kirby Allen
John Kirby Allen
John Kirby Allen was born in Canasareaugh, near Syracuse in the U.S. state of New York. He, along with his older brother, Augustus Chapman Allen, founded Houston, Texas in 1836. John Kirby Allen was never married...
and Augustus Chapman Allen
Augustus Chapman Allen
Augustus Chapman Allen , along with his younger brother, John Kirby Allen, founded the City of Houston in the U.S. state of Texas. He was born on July 4, 1806, in Canasareaugh, New York, to Sarah and Roland Allen.- Early years :...
, the founders of Houston.
Location and interchanges
The entire length of Allen Parkway is considered a limited-access parkwayParkway
The term parkway has several distinct principal meanings and numerous synonyms around the world, for either a type of landscaped area or a type of road.Type of landscaped area:...
and closely follows the south bank of Buffalo Bayou
Buffalo Bayou
Buffalo Bayou is a main waterway flowing through Houston, in Harris County, Texas, USA. It begins in Katy, Fort Bend County, Texas and flows approximately east to the Houston Ship Channel and then into Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico...
. Memorial Drive
Memorial Drive (Houston, Texas)
Memorial Drive is an arterial road in the western half of Houston, Texas, United States. It runs from Interstate 45 west to State Highway 6, a distance of approximately 20 miles , although a section goes through several predominantly higher-income residential neighborhoods in the cities of...
, another limited-access parkway, closely follows the north bank of the bayou. Allen Parkway passes under Studemont Street/Montrose Boulevard, Waugh Drive, and Shepherd Drive. At the Waugh Drive and Studemont/Montrose interchanges, which have exit and entrance ramps and feeder roads
Frontage road
A frontage road is a non-limited access road running parallel to a higher-speed road, usually a freeway, and feeding it at appropriate points of access...
on each side, Allen Parkway is below grade. The south side (eastbound) has continuous feeder roads, the north side (westbound) has discontinuous feeder roads. Access is not controlled at Dunlavy Street, where traffic to or from Allen Parkway can cross the median. Also, there is a stoplight at Taft Street for eastbound traffic, which is a Continuous Green T-intersection.
Unusual configuration
The intersection of Allen Parkway and I-45 was once known as the Spaghetti BowlSpaghetti Bowl
Spaghetti Bowl is a term used to describe a network of highway interconnects that looks like spaghetti in a bowl when viewed from overhead, also known as a Spaghetti Junction. The name is frequently only used by locals...
because of the numerous curving entrance and exit ramps. Motorists traveling eastbound at the eastern terminus can exit to Clay Street, Dallas Street, I-45 northbound, or I-45 southbound. The merge onto I-45 South is known by long-time Houston residents as one of the most difficult merges in the Houston area.
Motorists wishing to travel westbound on Allen Parkway can enter via Walker Street, Lamar Street, or by way of an entrance ramp which collects traffic from Sabine Street, and I-45 northbound and southbound. The eastbound feeder ends at West Dallas Street. A portion of the roadway also used to be known as "The Deathtrap" because of an odd number of travel lanes and bridge supports for a railroad positioned in the middle of the road.
Traffic
Allen Parkway rarely suffers from heavy traffic congestion. At the Montrose Boulevard interchange, the busiest location, there are less than 29,000 vehicles per day. Allen Parkway has three mainlanes in each direction, except at underpasses. In addition, Allen Parkway ends at the eastern boundary of the River Oaks neighborhood, providing a means for these residents to quickly reach downtown Houston.Flooding
Due to its proximity to the flood-prone Buffalo Bayou, the underpasses are subject to flooding during heavy rains and flood gauges can be seen. In June 2001, though, heavy rains from Tropical Storm AllisonTropical Storm Allison
Tropical Storm Allison was a tropical storm that devastated southeast Texas in June of the 2001 Atlantic hurricane season. The first storm of the season, Allison lasted an unusually long period of time for a June storm, remaining tropical or subtropical for 15 days...
caused Buffalo Bayou to overtop its banks and flood the entire parkway, in some places, to a depth of eight feet. Even the KHOU-TV
KHOU-TV
KHOU is the CBS affiliate television station in Houston, Texas. Serving Greater Houston, it is owned by the Belo Corporation and broadcasts on digital and PSIP channel 11...
television studios, at a slightly higher elevation than Allen Parkway, were flooded. Most of Allen Parkway is more than 30 feet (9 m) above the normal level of Buffalo Bayou. However, the level of the bayou during the storm was more than 30 feet (9.1 m) above normal.
Recreation
Allen Parkway forms the entire southern boundary of Buffalo Bayou Park. The parkway also ends just west of Sam Houston Park in downtown. Jogging and bike paths follow Allen Parkway for its entire length, though the trails occasionally dip downwards towards the bayou. The road itself is used as part of the route for the annual ChevronChevron Corporation
Chevron Corporation is an American multinational energy corporation headquartered in San Ramon, California, United States and active in more than 180 countries. It is engaged in every aspect of the oil, gas, and geothermal energy industries, including exploration and production; refining,...
Houston Marathon
Houston Marathon
The Houston Marathon is an annual marathon held every January in Houston, Texas. With thousands of runners and spectators, it is the largest single day sporting event in the city. It is run concurrently with a half marathon and a 5 km race...
.
There are several rest area exits along the north side of the parkway which provide motorists with access to the park. Concerts are also held on the south side of the bayou
Bayou
A bayou is an American term for a body of water typically found in flat, low-lying areas, and can refer either to an extremely slow-moving stream or river , or to a marshy lake or wetland. The name "bayou" can also refer to creeks that see level changes due to tides and hold brackish water which...
, next to Allen Parkway, including the official City of Houston Fourth of July fireworks
Fireworks
Fireworks are a class of explosive pyrotechnic devices used for aesthetic and entertainment purposes. The most common use of a firework is as part of a fireworks display. A fireworks event is a display of the effects produced by firework devices...
celebration and concert. Also, the annual Houston Art Car Parade
Houston Art Car Parade
The Houston Art Car Parade is an annual event in Houston, Texas, featuring a display of all types of rolling art. The first and largest Art Car parade in the world, at any given parade spectators will see cars, bicycles, motorcycles, roller-skaters, and many other types of motorized and...
is located on the eastern half of Allen Parkway.