Since the FM 1774 Segment 1 widening project opened in June, area drivers have only had access to two lanes, a continuous center-turn lane and shoulders on the planned four-lane roadway.
In early October, however, the Texas Department of Transportation is expected to restripe the road to allow for four lanes of traffic, parallel parking in front of downtown businesses, a center-turn lane and shoulders, said Deidrea George, TxDOT Houston District public information officer.
“Once we have received approval from the [Federal Highway Administration], TxDOT will modify an existing contract to do the striping,” George said. “Since the new pavement is already in place, the restriping will be a minimal construction process with minimal disruption to the traveling public.”
The Segment 1 project, which was originally scheduled to open in September 2014, was delayed due to utility relocations and gasoline storage tank removals, George said.
To stripe the roadway to four lanes, TxDOT was originally expected to receive approval from the Federal Highway Administration in compliance with Environmental Protection Agency guidelines for air quality in late July or August but was delayed until mid-September, she said.
“I think a lot of the residents are frustrated because they go into that right lane [on FM 1774] to make the right turn so they are not blocking that traffic, and they get tickets,” Magnolia City Council Member Brenda Hoppe said.
The Segment 1 project will add capacity to serve 17,300 vehicles per day by 2035, according to TxDOT statistics.
In addition, George said Segment 2 widening construction from West Lost Creek Boulevard to FM 149 is on schedule to begin this fall and be complete by summer 2017.
Montgomery County Precinct 2 Commissioner Charlie Riley said the FM 1774 widening projects will significantly aid in relieving traffic congestion in the city of Magnolia.
“When [TxDOT] says, ‘Start construction,’ you’ll probably see a lot of utilities being moved instead of tearing up the road at first,” Riley said.
Since the FM 1774 Segment 1 widening project opened in June, area drivers have only had access to two lanes, a continuous center-turn lane and shoulders on the planned four-lane roadway.
In early October, however, the Texas Department of Transportation is expected to restripe the road to allow for four lanes of traffic, parallel parking in front of downtown businesses, a center-turn lane and shoulders, said Deidrea George, TxDOT Houston District public information officer.
“Once we have received approval from the [Federal Highway Administration], TxDOT will modify an existing contract to do the striping,” George said. “Since the new pavement is already in place, the restriping will be a minimal construction process with minimal disruption to the traveling public.”
The Segment 1 project, which was originally scheduled to open in September 2014, was delayed due to utility relocations and gasoline storage tank removals, George said.
To stripe the roadway to four lanes, TxDOT was originally expected to receive approval from the Federal Highway Administration in compliance with Environmental Protection Agency guidelines for air quality in late July or August but was delayed until mid-September, she said.
“I think a lot of the residents are frustrated because they go into that right lane [on FM 1774] to make the right turn so they are not blocking that traffic, and they get tickets,” Magnolia City Council Member Brenda Hoppe said.
The Segment 1 project will add capacity to serve 17,300 vehicles per day by 2035, according to TxDOT statistics.
In addition, George said Segment 2 widening construction from West Lost Creek Boulevard to FM 149 is on schedule to begin this fall and be complete by summer 2017.
Montgomery County Precinct 2 Commissioner Charlie Riley said the FM 1774 widening projects will significantly aid in relieving traffic congestion in the city of Magnolia.
“When [TxDOT] says, ‘Start construction,’ you’ll probably see a lot of utilities being moved instead of tearing up the road at first,” Riley said.
