The funding needed for a project to extend David Memorial Drive to Hwy. 242 has been secured following an approval at the Nov. 8 Montgomery County Commissioners Court meeting.
County officials agreed to reallocate $3 million from the road and bridge fund to the project, bringing the county's contribution to $5 million.
Shenandoah City Administrator Kathie Reyer said in an email the next step for the city will be completing right-of-way acquisitions through condemnation.
"The funds approved in Commissioners Court this morning are the remaining funds needed to proceed with completion of the project," she said in an email. This is great news for the city and for the surrounding area."
In addition to the $3 million approved Nov. 8, the county is contributing $2 million from its 2015 road bond.
When condemnations are complete, she said clearing will begin in the county section of the project. The clearing could begin as soon as next month, she said.
Originally estimated to cost $8 million, the total engineering and construction cost estimate is now closer to $10 million, Reyer said in an email. Funding secured includes $2 million from Shenandoah, a total of $5 million committed by Montgomery County, and $2.1 million from Conroe. The total also includes $500,000 in regional funding committed by The Woodlands Township.
"Actual costs will be determined after bidding, which should happen in February," Reyer said in an email. "Construction is estimated to begin in April, [and] the completion date is not yet determined."
Former Shenandoah Mayor Ritch Wheeler spoke at the Nov. 8 meeting to express appreciation for the county's part in moving the project forward.
"This has been several years' worth of work by a lot of people," Wheeler said. "Once it gets across the finish line, [the project] is going to serve a lot of different people in south Montgomery County and Montgomery County as a whole."
Wheeler noted that the intersection at Hwy. 242 and I-45 becomes gridlocked, and the extension could help alleviate that, improving both safety and mobility.
"First responders [will] have another access point to get to the five major hospitals," Wheeler said. "That’s going to help with the quality of life."
Precinct 2 Commissioner Charlie Riley said at the meeting that he would contribute $100,000 from his budget to the $2.9 million commissioners agreed to move from the road and bridge fund that had been earmarked for a Hwy. 242 flyover. Officials said funds for the Hwy. 242 flyover could be restored through advance funding from the Texas Department of Transportation.
