Bridge connects residents, relieves traffic on major thoroughfares

A new bridge over Flat Creek Bank opened in December, linking the master-planned communities of Sienna Plantation and Riverstone. The project, which began in 2010, has been a joint venture between Fort Bend County, Levee Improvement District No. 19 and Municipal Utility District No. 149, along with the management of Riverstone and Sienna Plantation. The county provided 38 percent—or $2.4 million—toward the project's more than $8 million price tag.

"The bridge is a critical infrastructure component because it allows folks in Sienna Plantation and Riverstone to move between the two communities without having to use Hwy. 6," County Judge Bob Hebert said. "What we try to do with all of these improvements is include stakeholders to lower the cost to the taxpayers while still getting the infrastructure developed."

In addition to connecting areas of increased residential development, the bridge offers an alternate route to the Fort Bend Parkway Toll Toad—which is expected to be extended from Hwy. 6 to Sienna Parkway by early 2014.

"I would say that [the bridge] is extremely convenient if you want to get over to Riverstone," Missouri City resident Ashley Sramek said. "Now I can use the back roads to get to Sugar Land, especially if Hwy. 6 is really congested."

The project has been completed in several phases, including road work, drainage facilities, water lines, sidewalks and landscaping. The bridge is open to traffic, but landscaping work is expected to continue into 2014.

The three-mile bridge, which spans the dividing line between the county's precincts 2 and 4, connects Sienna Springs Drive in Sienna Plantation to LJ Parkway in Riverstone.

LJ Parkway currently ends north of University Boulevard, which was extended in early 2013 to connect Hwy. 59 in Sugar Land to Hwy. 6 in Missouri City.

Accessibility in the area is expected to be enhanced further when LJ Parkway connects with Commonwealth Boulevard, which is planned for next year, said Tom Wilcox, general manager of Riverstone.

In addition, construction to connect University Boulevard to Hwy. 90 is expected to wrap up in early 2014.