1. Friendswood Link Road Widening 

Construction continues on the widening of Friendswood Link Road. The project—which received funding from a Texas General Land Office disaster recovery grant—is expected to improve emergency evacuation routes out of Friendswood. The project stretches approximately 1 mile from FM 518 to Blackhawk Boulevard. From FM 518 to Hibiscus Lane, the portion of the project in Galveston County, the thoroughfare will be expanded from two to three lanes with a dedicated turn lane. The stretch of the project in Harris County, Hibiscus Lane to Blackhawk Boulevard, will be widened from two to four lanes with medians. The project also includes the installation of new sidewalks and an improved drainage system. The project is in its final phase, and completion is set for the summer barring any delays. Timeline: fall 2014-summer 2016 Cost: $5.3 million Funding sources: Texas General Land Office grant, city of Friendswood

2. Friendswood roadway improvements

Construction began in early March on the first streets in a group of repavement projects in Friendswood. City Council awarded a construction contract to El Dorado Paving Company on Dec. 7 for the four thoroughfare projects, which were grouped into one contract. Voters approved a bond referendum in 2013 for the projects. Mary Ann Drive, Shadowbend Avenue, and Townes and Winding roads will each have portions of roadway replaced. Work is underway on Shadowbend Avenue and Winding Road. Another roadway will begin construction upon the completion of Shadowbend Avenue. City officials said it is not ideal to have too many streets under construction simultaneously. 2A. Mary Ann Drive will have 16,001 feet of its roadway replaced. 2B. Shadowbend Avenue will have 1,224 feet of its roadway replaced. 2C. Townes Road will have 786 feet of its roadway replaced. 2D. Winding Road will have 2,133 feet of its roadway replaced. Timeline: March 2016-first quarter 2017 Cost: $2.5 million Funding sources: city of Friendswood, Texas Department of Transportation

3. Regency Park improvements

The project for paving and drainage improvements in Regency Park, the oldest concrete-paved subdivision in Pearland, was completed in late February. City officials said the project wrapped up three months ahead of schedule. All of the streets in the subdivision—approximately 5,400 feet of roadway—were replaced. An emergency vehicle gate was installed to provide access through the Pearland Junior High East parking lot. A new water main system replaced the existing water line, and curb inlets were also installed to help prevent flooding. Timeline: June 2015-February 2016 Cost: $3.31 million Funding sources: city of Pearland   Hwy. 288 toll lanes[/caption]

Hwy. 288 toll lanes

TxDOT and Brazoria County will install toll lanes on Hwy. 288. The toll lanes—two in each direction—will be installed in the grassy median. TxDOT and Blueridge Transportation Group, the contractor for the Harris County portion of the project, finalized their contract March 8. The partnership is the first in the Greater Houston area in which a private contractor will design, construct, finance, operate and maintain the highway. Construction was scheduled to begin in late 2015 but is now set for the third quarter of 2016. Blueridge will be responsible for a 10.3-mile stretch from Hwy. 59 to Clear Creek. Brazoria County will construct the toll lanes from Clear Creek to CR 58. Timeline: third quarter 2016-summer 2019 Cost: $950 million Funding sources: Blueridge Transportation Group, Brazoria County, TxDOT