While the construction of segments F1, F2 and G of Grand Parkway continues just south of Montgomery County, county officials and legislators are supporting the funding of a westbound to northbound connector from Grand Parkway to I-45. The direct connector was not planned for construction by the Texas Department of Transportation until 2037.

Montgomery County Precinct 3 Commissioner James Noack said planning was completed for all eight direct connectors between Grand Parkway and I-45, but funding was only provided for two direct connectors in this first phase of construction. Noack said a westbound to northbound connector was not approved because initial studies may have underestimated the traffic volume and suggested there would not be significant new development in the area.

"The study was done in 2008 and 2009, and obviously a lot has happened since then in terms of ExxonMobil and the explosion on the east side of I-45," Noack said.

TxDOT public information officer Raquelle Lewis said the current construction contract with Zachry-Odebrecht only includes funding for the southbound to westbound and eastbound to northbound direct connectors at I-45. Lewis said TxDOT conducted a traffic and revenue study to determine whether the toll revenue created by the traffic volumes would be enough to pay for construction of a westbound to northbound direct connector.

"The findings indicate that the expected traffic volumes for these direct connectors would not generate the toll revenues [income] required to justify construction at this time," Lewis said.

Noack said the project could cost $20 million and would need to be paid for by TxDOT. He said he is working with TxDOT Commissioner Jeff Moseley, Rep. Steve Toth, R-The Woodlands, and Rep. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, to resolve the issue and find funding during the first phase of construction.

"We have a desperate need for this connection in the South Montgomery County area to alleviate severe congestion currently being experienced on local roads, such as Rayford and Sawdust roads," Toth said in a letter to Moseley. "This congestion is a direct result of the additional 11,000 residential lots, along with numerous commercial improvements in the immediate area east of the intersection."

Sen. Tommie Williams, R-The Woodlands, said TxDOT is performing a traffic study on the region to determine whether the estimates from previous studies are accurate, and he will wait for the results of the study to decide whether he will support the project.

"If the [previous] estimates are accurate, they would not support building a direct connector," Williams said. "All I want are all the facts on the table. And if they support a direct connector, I'll support the project."

Williams said he spearheaded legislation for the funding of the Grand Parkway in the last legislative session. However, he wants to ensure funding spent on traffic projects are spent in the right areas of the county.

"There's other areas with congestion where we could use that $20 million," Williams said. "I want to get the most bang for our buck."