With the Hwy. 290 expansion project scheduled to take place over the next several years, the Texas Department of Transportation has begun to improve several intersections along the Northwest Houston corridor. TxDOT expects to have the entire Hwy. 290 expansion project—split into three segments—underway by early 2014. As part of the ultimate plan, construction on six transportation systems management projects began in January.

The intersections are scheduled to be completed by March 2013. Once completed, the interchanges will be built into the final configuration of Hwy. 290, said Karen Othon, TxDOT public information officer.

"The intersection improvements were excellent candidates for the TSM program with the growth that is occurring along Hwy. 290 in the northwestern part of Harris County," Othon said. "We reviewed these improvements as a way to deal with the large amount of congestion, especially during peak periods."

Projects are underway beginning at the Hwy. 290 and Eldridge Parkway intersection and continue down to Fry Road.These modifications are expected to reduce backups by allowing more vehicles to make different traffic movements from the same lane, according to TxDOT's design. Median modifications and dedicated left, right and U-turn lanes will be constructed at each of the targeted interchanges to increase traffic flow.

"Each intersection improvement is important as we are improving safety and moving more vehicles through the intersections," Othon said.