During a June 26 meeting, Conroe City Council approved an advanced funding agreement with Texas Department of Transportation for a project that aims to widen existing lanes approaching the bridge on both the east and west sides of I-45 near North Loop 336, as well as upgrading the traffic signals to improve traffic flow and safety, according to the agenda.

The details

The $1.7 million project is funded through federal dollars allocated by the Houston-Galveston Area Council and administered by TxDOT, according to the agenda, and the project is an approved capital improvement plan project.

“This is agreeing to the AFA, which is the funding mechanism between us and the state,” Norman McGuire, assistant city administrator and public works director, said during the meeting. “The project is 100% funded by the state ... at no cost whatsoever to our taxpayers.”

The city previously designed the project and submitted it for regional funding after it was pulled from an earlier CIP. Now, considered “shelf-ready,” the project could go out for bid soon, with completion expected by mid-2026, McGuire said.

Although the project is fully funded, McGuire said there are transportation development credits totaling $305,156 that can be used to offset any local match requirements through the Houston Community Development Corporation in case of cost overruns. According to the agenda, this ensures the city will have no out-of-pocket expenses.