In 2005 and 2006, TxDOT held public meetings to discuss a plan to widen FM 646 from I-45 to Bayshore Boulevard. The widening of the road from I-45 to Edmund Way from two lanes to four has since been completed.
Now, TxDOT is considering doing the same thing from Edmund Way to FM 3436.
Under the plan, FM 646 would become a four-lane road with two lanes in each direction divided by a 16-foot-wide raised median. This would align with the existing four lanes of FM 646 from I-45 to Edmund Way, TxDOT representative Joshua Geyer said.
Additionally, TxDOT is proposing to create an overpass for traffic at the railroad that intersects FM 646 just east of Hwy. 3. Today, traffic must stop to allow trains to pass, but the overpass would allow both trains and traffic to travel without stopping, he said.
The proposed overpass would displace nine buildings: one single-family home, seven commercial facilities and one place of worship. TxDOT would work with owners of displaced properties, Geyer said.
Geyer said widening the road will ease traffic congestion.
“The improvements are needed because current and projected growth in the area has caused traffic demand to increase and therefore congestion has increased along the corridor,” he said.
Additionally, the widening will make the road safer. From 2015 to 2021, there were several crashes along FM 646 between Edmund Way and FM 3436, and a few of them were fatal.
“Crash rates within the project limits are significantly higher than the statewide average, and five fatalities have occurred during the six-year study time frame,” Geyer said.
The project would total $56 million from state and federal funds. About $34 million would be for the segment from Edmund Way to FM 1266, and another $22 million would be for the segment from FM 1266 to FM 3436, Geyer said.
If approved, construction would begin in late 2022 and take 1 1/2 to two years for the first segment and another 1 1/2 to two years for the second, Geyer said.
Residents can view TxDOT’s presentation and submit comments about the project on TxDOT’s website. Comments must be received by March 3, Geyer said.
