Construction began this spring on a series of road projects connecting major roads and filling gaps in western Cy-Fair’s street layout.

The projects—which target Cypress North Houston, West and Greenhouse roads—involve joint funding and construction agreements between Harris County Precinct 3 and area developers.

Caldwell Companies, the developer behind the Towne Lake master-planned community, is participating in several of the projects. Peter Barnhart, a development partner with Caldwell’s development team, said the road connections will be vital to providing mobility through growth. He compared the upcoming completion of Hwy. 290 in Cypress with the completion of I-10 in Katy in terms of the growth it will bring.

Caldwell started construction in April on the first phase of a Greenhouse Road project extending the road north toward Hwy. 290, where it will eventually connect to Mound Road, officials said. A joint agreement between Harris County and Caldwell involves the county funding the design of a two-lane bridge on Greenhouse Road over Cypress Creek. Officials with Caldwell have expressed interest in landscaping as well.

After a one-year warranty period, Harris County takes over maintenance duties on the road and drainage. Once it becomes county responsibility, officials will start monitoring traffic volumes and construct additional lanes as warranted, said Randy Schilhab, manager of engineering for Harris County Precinct 3.

“When a private landowner develops their property, they are required to dedicate the right of way, install the drainage system and construct two lanes of pavement for all major thoroughfares within their plat boundaries,” he said.

Caldwell will also be responsible for the funding and construction of a two-lane concrete half-boulevard connecting the existing Mound Road to the future Greenhouse Road. The target end-date for construction for the entire project is December 2016.

The county is partnering with Caldwell and Taylor Morrison—the home-building company responsible for Alder Trails in Cypress—on a project to connect Cypress North Houston from Fry to Barker Cypress roads. Caldwell is funding a two-lane concrete half-boulevard from east of Fry Road to an existing Harris County Flood Control District channel. Precinct 3 will manage and fund the design and construction over the channel, and Taylor Morrison has already completed its portion from the channel east to Barker Cypress Road near Alder Trails.

A third project involves connecting existing portions of West Road. Caldwell and Land Tejas—the developer behind master-planned community Miramesa—are working together on a project to extend West Road from Greenhouse Road to an existing end point at Fry Road.

Caldwell is funding the design and construction of a two-lane concrete half-boulevard from Greenhouse Road going west to the Towne Lake property line. Land Tejas will pick up the project at the property line and fund the design and construction to Fry Road. 

Officials with Cy-Fair ISD expect the projects to help with traffic patterns and congestions, particularly around Cypress Ranch and Cypress Springs high schools.

Roy Sprague, CFISD assistant superintendent of facilities and construction, said the projects will also mitigate congestion around the new Cypress Park High School, which will open for the 2016-17 school year.

The projects also help improve CFISD transportation efficiency by reducing the amount of time it takes for its maintenance fleet to get to and from campus and for its food services to deliver products, Sprague said.