Read the latest updates on various road projects in and around Katy, including which projects were set back by Tropical Storm Harvey:

Completed Project

Morton Road expansion The 1-mile section of Morton Road between Katy Hockley Cut Off and Katy Hockley roads has been widened from two to four lanes of concrete-paved road. Two-way traffic was open on the roadway as of August. Timeline: December 2015-August 2017 Cost: $7.56 million Funding sources: city of Katy, Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County

Project Updates

Cane Island Parkway project Two lanes of concrete road will be constructed on Cane Island Parkway between Willow Fork and FM 1463, as well as a new concrete bridge and channel improvements. The 600-foot-long bridge is under construction and a storm sewer drainage pipe is being installed. The project completion date will likely be delayed at least two weeks due to Tropical Storm Harvey in late August; however, a new completion date has not been approved. Timeline: July 2017-April 2018 Cost: $9 million Funding sources: Fort Bend County, city of Katy, Ventana Development Westpark Tollway extension/FM 1093 widening Phase 1 of the project is on schedule while Phase 2 mainly focuses on FM 1093, which will be a two-lane frontage road in each direction. Westpark Tollway will be extended west from the Grand Parkway to west of the Cross Creek Ranch community in Fulshear. The project suffered no damage from Tropical Storm Harvey, but crews will likely be delayed about two weeks. Construction now primarily includes main tollway paving and road markings, installing signage and toll gantries—the overhead structures that hold tolling equipment. Timeline: February 2016-February 2018 Cost: $3 million Funding sources: Fort Bend County Assistance District 1, Fort Bend County Toll Road Authority, Emergency Services District 100, Texas Department of Transportation Downtown Katy Plaza The project to renovate streets and sidewalks around the future plaza next to Katy City Hall began Phase 2 work in late June. Flooding occurred around Second and Third streets during Tropical Storm Harvey but it is unknown whether that affected the project timeline. Timeline: January-September 2017 Cost: $3 million Funding sources: city of Katy

Tolls waived after Tropical Storm Harvey,  advice for drivers with rental and new cars

With evacuees and out-of-state volunteers alike flocking to the Greater Houston area’s toll roads during and after Tropical Storm Harvey, the Texas Department of Transportation, Harris County Toll Road Authority and Fort Bend County Toll Road Authority each suspended tolls in Harris, Fort Bend and Montgomery counties for several weeks until mid September.

HCTRA began waiving the fees Aug. 27, when rains were still flooding roadways. Tolls resumed Sept. 14 on all of the system’s roadways except Beltway 8 between Hwy. 290 and Hwy. 59.

Tolls on the Grand Parkway were also waived between its two intersections with Hwy. 59 in Sugar Land and Kingwood, as well as the segment between I-10 and Fisher Road in Chambers County. TxDOT waived the tolls from Aug. 27 to Sept. 14.

For drivers using rental or new cars after tolls resumed, HCTRA recommended those with existing EZ TAG accounts to add their current vehicle license plate to avoid receiving a bill in the mail.

Temporary vehicles can be added online via the “EZ Plate” feature, which eliminates the need for the EZ TAG on the windshield on HCTRA roads only.

Drivers without existing EZ TAG accounts can use the EZ TAG Express app for iOS and Android devices to set up an account using their license plate for HCTRA roads only. More information is available at www.hctra.org