Overpass, direct connector planned at Hwy. 290/FM 1960 intersection

Construction began on Project E of the Hwy. 290 program earlier in 2014, and work is now underway on the busy intersection of FM 1960 and Hwy. 290.

The plan for the intersection includes a bridge over Hwy. 290 from Copper Grove Boulevard to N. Eldridge Parkway, said Karen Othon, public information officer with the Texas Department of Transportation.

Frontage roads are being built along FM 1960 and Hwy. 6. New continuous inbound frontage roads will also be constructed along Hwy. 290 between Telge Road and N. Eldridge Parkway. The contractor has been mainly working on the inbound and outbound Hwy. 290 frontage roads so far, Othon said.

Plans for the intersection also call for a direct connector to be built, taking drivers from northbound Hwy. 6 to inbound Hwy. 290.

Hwy. 290 officials met with business owners within the Project E boundaries before construction started to inform them of the details and address any concerns. One of the top concerns among business owners located at the intersection was that the bridge would cause drivers to bypass them. Owners of the Harris County Smokehouse have plans to relocate their restaurant from 13280 FM 1960 to 19821 Hwy. 290.

"I understand the expansion represents progress that needed to happen, but it just closed off too many of our access points," owner Harry Chambers said.

Frontage roads along FM 1960 will still provide access to businesses, Othon said.

Work on Project E is expected to be finished by 2017, Othon said. The total cost is $135.4 million and will be funded by TxDOT.