Transportation Updates1. Lockwood Drive/Woodland Hills Drive expansion, extension

Harris County Precinct 2 is designing two additional phases of the project, which will expand Woodland Hills Drive to four lanes between Beltway 8 and Eagle Ridge Elementary School, where the road currently ends. A new four-lane roadway will then be constructed between Eagle Ridge Elementary and Woodland Path Drive. The project also includes a bridge over Williams Gully. Phase 1, which expanded Lockwood Drive between North Lake Houston Parkway and the Union Pacific Corp. rail line was completed in June.

Timeline: April 2015-fourth quarter 2017 Cost: $22.8 million Funding sources: Harris County precincts 1, 2 and 4; McCord Development

2. Wilson Road expansion

The expansion of Wilson Road between just north of Beltway 8 and Atascocita Road has reached the final study phase. The findings of the engineering study will be presented at a Sept. 13 Harris County Commissioners Court meeting. It was originally slated to reach the design phase in July. The project will expand the road to four lanes.

Timeline: TBA Cost: $10.2 million Funding sources: Harris County Precinct 4

3. West Lake Houston Parkway expansion

Friendswood Development Co. constructed the expansion of West Lake Houston Parkway from Mills Branch Drive to the border between Harris and Montgomery counties. The project expanded the roadway from two lanes to four to accommodate for increased traffic due to a new housing subdivision in the area. It will be open to the public after approval from the city of Houston.

Timeline:Construction completed in July Cost: $7.5 million Funding sources: Friendswood Development, Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority

4. West Lake Houston Parkway/Will Clayton Parkway corridor improvements

Fiber-optic cables will be installed to improve signal operations along Will Clayton Parkway between Atascocita Road and West Lake Houston Parkway. An additional left-turn lane will be added for northbound traffic to turn westbound onto FM 1960 from West Lake Houston Parkway. A new traffic signal will be constructed at the intersection of June Forest Drive and Will Clayton Parkway. 

Timeline: Construction expected to begin fourth quarter 2016 Cost: $3.8 million Funding sources: Jack Morman, Harris County Precinct 2

5. Northpark Drive expansion

The LHRA is designing the expansion of Northpark Drive in Kingwood. The project will add a lane on each side of the road from Loop 494 to Woodland Hills Drive with an overpass at the railroad tracks. The LHRA is seeking discretionary grant funds to help pay for the project.

Timeline: Construction could begin in 2019 Cost: $55 million Funding sources: LHRA, Montgomery County, Texas Department of Transportation, private developers, Harris County precincts 2 and 4

6. FM  1960 Business upgrades

TxDOT is resurfacing FM 1960 Business as well as constructing medians and installing sidewalks between west of Lee Road to east of Old Humble Road in Humble. The 8.2-mile stretch of improvements also includes drainage and intersection upgrades throughout the project. 

Timeline: November 2014-first quarter 2017 Cost: $13.2 million Funding sources: TxDOT

Transportation UpdatesHardy Toll Road

The toll road is being widened from two to three lanes in each direction from FM 1960 to the Grand Parkway. The widening, which will include the construction of full shoulders, and an interchange at the Grand Parkway, is under construction. Signing and pavement markings will be updated along the entire toll road, and bridge decks are under repair. As of March, all tolled ramps along the Hardy Toll Road are EZ Tag-accessible. Starting July 18, cash was no longer accepted on the toll road.

Timeline: January 2015-first quarter 2017 Cost: $95 million Funding sources: Harris County Toll Road Authority