Old Conroe Road expansion project under federal review

A federal review process is underway for the Old Conroe Road expansion and connectivity project to make sure it is eligible for federal funding, said Michael Keck, the project manager for the city of Conroe’s chosen engineering firm, LJA Engineering. He said the review could take a few years.

Keck confirmed construction will likely begin in 2024 and take anywhere from two and a half to three years. LJA Engineering received a $120 million budget from the city of Conroe for the project.

According to metropolitan planning organization the Houston-Galveston Area Council, the Old Conroe Road project is slated to receive $77.9 million in federal funds and $23.4 million in local funds.

In an April 2021 public presentation, LJA Engineering described the project as a way to improve connectivity in southern Montgomery County. Old Conroe Road will be connected to Sgt. Ed Holcombe Boulevard South with a pair of bridges across Lake Creek and the West Fork of the San Jacinto River, according to LJA Engineering.

Additionally, both Sgt. Ed Holcombe Boulevard and Old Conroe Road would be widened from two to four lanes to relieve congestion. The project also contains medians and intermittent sidewalks, according to LJA’s presentation.

Keck said the bridge crossing the West Fork posed several challenges for LJA, including making sure it was high enough to avoid potential floods from the river. Another time-consuming aspect of the project involves constructing in the wetlands, which requires approval from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineering, Keck said.

"Those are the two big things when you cross a river,” Keck said. “It also increases the cost quite a bit.”