The Texas Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration are in the process of re-evaluating the final environmental impact statement for the Hwy. 290 expansion project. The re-design began when the parameters of the project were changed to include three reversible managed lanes down the center of the corridor from Loop 610 to Hwy. 6 and two managed lanes from Hwy. 6 to the Grand Parkway.

At a public meeting held Dec. 11, TxDOT revealed the interim plans to the public, which include additional general purpose lanes in each direction from Loop 610 to the Grand Parkway, two to three managed lanes down the center and an asphalt overlay on Hempstead Road from W. 18th Street to Brittmoore Road. The proposed Hempstead Tollway is expected to be constructed by 2035, at which time the managed lanes on Hwy. 290 are slated to become general purpose lanes.

The primary focus of the meetings are to consider the validity of the initial final environmental impact statement and record of decision approved by the Federal Highway Administration in August 2010 in regard to the changes made. Major changes include a re-design on the main lanes and the addition of managed lanes for high occupancy vehicles and toll traffic down the middle of Hwy. 290.

"A re-evaluation is necessary when changes to an approved project occur, as in this case, and TxDOT is currently in the process of preparing the re-evaluation of the federal environmental impact statement," said Karen Othon, TxDOT public information officer. "It will be available in early 2013."

Hwy. 290 will be constructed with concrete pavement textured with longitudinal grooves in order to minimize noise levels. However, nearby residents expressed concerns regarding the lack of noise mitigation efforts by TxDOT.

"As a community, we recognize the need for additional lane capacity and congestion relief," said Mike Castro, Jersey Village city manager. "However, we do not feel that TxDOT has exercised due diligence in the examination and mitigation of the impact of the expansion on neighboring communities. We are specifically concerned with the additional noise that will be generated once the project is complete."

Public meetings are held throughout the planning process of any road improvement project, according to TxDOT, and are intended to gather information from community groups and residents.

The total cost for the Hwy. 290 expansion project is estimated at $4.7 billion with construction slated to cost about $1.3 billion, according to TxDOT. As outlined by the memorandum of understanding signed between the state and county in April, HCTRA is dedicated to provide $400 million in funding.

TxDOT plans to approve the major investment study before drafting the new environmental impact statement. After the draft is approved, a date for a public hearing will be scheduled by TxDOT.

An identical public meeting is scheduled for Dec. 13 at the Berry Center at 8877 Barker Cypress Road. Doors open at 6 p.m.