Cypress residents can expect construction soon near Greenhouse Road and Hwy. 290 as officials gear up for the years-long development of the Greenhouse Road underpass, which will connect to Skinner Road through a tunnel underneath the Union Pacific railroad.
Project officials held a groundbreaking ceremony for the underpass May 19, calling the development a decades-in-the-making investment for the community.
What you need to know
The multimillion-dollar project is a collaboration between the Texas Department of Transportation, Union Pacific Railroad, developer Caldwell Companies and several local entities, including Harris County MUD 500, Harris County Precinct 3, Harris County Emergency Services District No. 9 and the Harris County Toll Road Authority.
While the project was initially estimated to cost $81 million, Precinct 3 staff said the bid for total construction came in slightly under at $76 million.
About 80% of the total construction cost—approximately $60.8 million—will be covered using federal funds secured by the Houston-Galveston Area Council, officials said. Local partners MUD 500, Precinct 3, ESD 9 and HCTRA have committed to splitting the remaining 20%.
The underpass will provide a direct connection between the north and south sides of Hwy. 290, allowing emergency vehicles to bypass the train and alleviate traffic for Cypress area residents. The scope of work also involves expanding the roadway to span six lanes, installing 10-foot-wide hike and bike paths, utility improvements and major drainage and pump station infrastructure, Community Impact previously reported.
Why it matters
Approximately 75,000 to 80,000 cars cross Hwy. 290 between Barker Cypress and Fry roads daily, Precinct 3 staff said, making it one of the most heavily congested roadways in the area.
MUD 500 board President Jeff Ottmann said local leaders have been dreaming up the project for more than two decades, but challenges related to funding sources, evolving design requirements changing economic conditions and the COVID-19 pandemic created some setbacks. However, the project is now on track to bring "long-term regional benefits" to the area related to safety, mobility and emergency access, he said.
"We recognize there'll be temporary inconveniences along the way, but the long-term benefits for mobility, safety and emergency response will be substantial and long-lasting," he said at the May 19 event.
Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey said he inherited the Greenhouse underpass vision from former Commissioner Steve Radack, who served eight terms in the Precinct 3 seat. Ramsey emphasized that an investment of this scale takes time to execute but will help Cypress shape a downtown identity.
"This is one of two or three major projects I think that when we look back, this will be a decade of an award-winning project that's going to happen [and] going to make a difference in a lot of people's lives," he said.
What's next?
TxDOT will oversee the construction phase of the underpass project, according to MUD 500. Ottmann said construction begins this summer and will extend into late 2029 or early 2030.
"One of the things we've learned over the years is that highways and railroads actually divide people, and you can see that throughout history in various geographic areas ...," Caldwell Companies CEO Fred Caldwell said. "This underpass really signifies something much bigger than simply a road—it's a connector of people."
