1. Hwy. 290 projects C-2 and B

The Texas Transportation Commission awarded construction contracts in June for projects C-2 and B of the Hwy. 290 expansion project. Project C-2 involves widening Hwy. 290 between Mason and Bauer roads from two to three mainlanes in each direction. Construction on the $37 million project is expected to begin in September. The $33 million Project B, which involves widening the highway from two to three mainlanes between Bauer and Badtke roads, began in June.

2. Greenhouse Road extension

Harris County Precinct 3 officials began work April 20 on the extension of Greenhouse Road from Alston Hills Drive to Towne Lake Greene Trail, connecting two existing pieces of the roadway. When complete, the new thoroughfare will feature a concrete boulevard with two lanes in each direction, similar to the existing roadway. The extension project is one of several smaller projects county officials have planned to help improve mobility in the Cypress area.

Timeline: April-November Cost: $5.9 million Funding sources: Harris County

3. Beltway 8 direct connector

Construction continues on the Harris County Toll Road Authority project that will add a direct connector from Hwy. 249 southbound to Beltway 8 westbound. Work on the overhead beams across the frontage road continued in June. HCTRA expects additional lane closures on the Hwy. 249 frontage road from Greens Road to Beltway 8 during portions of weekends as well as closures of the southbound Hwy. 249 exit ramp to Beltway 8. More details are at www.hctra.org.

Timeline: summer 2014-late fall 2015 Cost: $25 million Funding sources: HCTRA

4. FM 1960/Hwy. 6 medians

The construction of medians on Hwy. 6 between I-10 and Pointe Northwest Boulevard wrapped up this spring. Meanwhile construction is expected to continue through the summer on medians along FM 1960 from Windermere Lakes Boulevard to Mills Road. The medians are replacing a two-way center-turn lane. Inside lanes on FM 1960 will be closed at various points throughout the project.

Timeline: fall 2014-late summer 2015 Cost: $3.9 million Funding sources: TxDOT

5. The Grand Parkway

Construction of the Grand Parkway is requiring several lane closures and traffic diversions on a number of roads near the project, including the Hwy. 290 eastbound frontage road from Bauer to Mason roads and the westbound frontage road from Fairfield Place Drive to Bauer Road through July 31. Three segments—F-1, F-2 and G—of the project are under simultaneous construction and will total 37 miles of Houston’s third outer loop. The segments stretch from Hwy. 290 to Hwy. 59 and feature major overpasses and interchanges at Hwy. 290, Hwy. 249 and I-45. For additional, up-to-date information on the construction progress and lane closures for each of the segments, visit www.grandparkway99.com.

Timeline: summer 2013-December Cost: $1 billion Funding sources: TxDOT