The Texas Department of Transportation is considering the next step in a multiphase plan spanning years to widen FM 646.

In 2005-06, TxDOT held public meetings to discuss a plan to widen FM 646 from I-45 to Bayshore Boulevard. Part of that project is already done.

“The portion between I-45 and Edmund Way—approximately 1.3 miles—has since been constructed,” TxDOT representative Joshua Geyer said during a February virtual meeting.

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, Geyer said.


Additionally, TxDOT is proposing to create an overpass for traffic at the railroad that intersects with FM 646 just east of Hwy. 3. 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 the 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.
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Additionally, the widening would 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, Geyer said.

“One of the goals of the project is to reduce crashes along the corridor,” Geyer said. “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.”

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.


According to the TxDOT website, next steps are to finalize environmental studies for the project, receive approval for additional environmental studies, and finalize the design of right of way acquisition.

Upcoming projects

Calder Road widening

Calder Road will be widened by 8 feet on the east side from FM 517 to 300 feet north of FM 517 to provide two southbound lanes approaching the FM 517 intersection.


Timeline: spring 2022-TBD

Cost: $288,000

Funding source: League City

Turner Street and Butler Road Phase 2 reconstruction


About 1,800 feet of Turner Street from Hobbs to Butler roads and about 4,300 feet of Butler from Turner to about 400 feet south of Sedona Drive will be reconstructed with concrete curbs and gutters.

Timeline: fall 2022-TBD

Cost: $7.31 million

Funding source: League City