Transportation Updates

1. Honea Egypt Road expansion

Construction on Honea Egypt Road from FM 1488 to Ranch Lake Drive in Magnolia has been completed as crews worked to expand the thoroughfare from two to four lanes. The length of the project includes a continuous left-turn lane much like already expanded segments of the roadway to the north of the project near the Woodforest community.

Timeline: June 2015-early 2016 Cost: $2.62 million Funding sources: Montgomery County Precinct 2, Westwood Magnolia Parkway Improvement District

Transportation Updates Honea Egypt Road expansion[/caption] Transportation Updates The Grand Parkway[/caption]

2. The Grand Parkway

The Texas Department of Transportation has wrapped up construction on segments F-1 and F-2 of the Grand Parkway, which now connects Hwy. 290 in Cypress with I-45 in Spring. The two segments opened to traffic Feb. 6, and toll rates went into effect Feb. 15. Segment G, which will connect I-45 to Hwy. 59, has been delayed until late March because of weather-related setbacks last year. Also known as the Greater Houston area’s third outer loop, the Grand Parkway is a toll road that will span 200 miles once complete.

Timeline: July 2013-Feb. 6, 2016 (segments F-1 and F-2), July 2013-March 2016 (Segment G) Cost: $1.2 billion Funding sources: TxDOT

3. FM 1774 overpass at FM 1488

The project will construct a nearly 1-mile flyover to connect FM 1774 over the railroad tracks at FM 1488 and remove the extra left turn at the intersection. Drivers heading across FM 1488 will use the regular mainlanes over the railroad tracks. The project will be sent out for bid in June.

Timeline: late 2016-TBD Cost: $17 million Funding sources: TxDOT, Montgomery County

4. Hwy. 249 extension

Environmental and drainage studies are complete for the next phase of the Tomball Tollway project, and Harris County design work is 60 percent complete. Construction on the 1.6-mile stretch from FM 2920 to the Spring Creek bridge is expected to begin in January 2017. The tollway extension will keep the existing six-lane configuration. Design work on the Montgomery County portion of Phase 2 is 30 percent complete. Construction on the 3.4-mile segment from Spring Creek to Woodtrace Boulevard in Pinehurst is expected to begin in mid-2017. The segment of tollway will narrow from a six- to four-lane configuration.

Timeline: January 2017-early 2019 Cost: $120 million (Harris County portion), TBD (Montgomery County portion) Funding sources: Harris County Toll Road Authority, Montgomery County Toll Road Authority

5. FM 2978 widening

Work on the southern portion of FM 2978, from Hufsmith Conroe Road to Dry Creek, will begin this spring. The project will widen the road from two to four lanes with a center-turn lane and 5-foot shoulders. Construction is expected to take 18 months to complete. Construction on the northern segment, from Dry Creek to FM 1488, is expected to begin later this year. The Dry Creek bridge will be replaced, and the road will be widened from two to four lanes to match the southern portion. The project is expected to take 30 months to complete once construction begins.

Timeline: spring 2016-2019 Cost: $25 million Funding sources: TxDOT