During its July 28 meeting, Harris County Commissioners Court approved the preliminary design for the Tomball Tollway Phase 2 extension project on Hwy. 249.

“Approval of this schematic will set the alignment, establish the right of way limits for the roadway and detention [pond] sites and allow the final engineering design to be completed for the project,” said Mary Benton, Harris County Toll Road Authority media relations and public affairs manager.

HCTRA is working with the Texas Department of Transportation, the Harris County Flood Control District and the city of Tomball on the project.

The project cost has increased from early estimates of $175 million to $187 million. The new estimate includes a $25 million reimbursement from TxDOT to construct frontage roads and $20 million from the Houston-Galveston Area Council for regional drainage improvements, Benton said.

The 6-mile, $155 million Tomball Tollway Phase 1 extension opened to traffic April 12. Phase 2 will extend the toll lanes north of FM 2920 to the Harris County line at Spring Creek.

In addition, Montgomery County plans to construct its $122.4 million portion of the Hwy. 249 extension during the same time frame. The 4.4-mile segment will span from north of Spring Creek to FM 149 in Pinehurst.