Drivers in Montgomery County will soon have a new east-west alternative to Hardin Store Road when traveling to FM 2978, Precinct 2 Commissioner Charlie Riley said.
"This is just the beginning of a new and safer, more reliable connection to [FM] 2978 from the west side of Precinct 2," he said.
Riley said the county commissioners have approved preliminary engineering of the new road, which will connect Dobbin Hufsmith Road in Magnolia to FM 2978 by tying into the existing intersection at Mansions Way and FM 2978.
The new connecting road will tie into FM 2978 at Mansions Way, located near The Mansions on the Park apartment complex.[/caption]
"Whenever you tie into a state road like this, the intersection with the traffic signal is 90 percent of the issue," he said. "Well, [the traffic signal is] already there."
Riley said the connecting road eases both traffic congestion and the concern regarding an extension providing direct access in and out of The Woodlands.
"This new road will do exactly what everybody wanted me to do [with the Woodlands Parkway extension]," Riley said. "It will take the road and move it south. Instead of having to move [the east-west connection] any further south, it goes right into a new intersection that has already been created."
However, Precinct 2's planned road is not an extension of Woodlands Parkway.
"This new alignment, it will go around the property that is owned by The Woodlands Development Corporation and tie into the right of way that we've already acquired back over at Dobbin Hufsmith Road," Riley said.
Precinct 2 will fund the surveying and engineering aspect of the project, Riley said. A funding source for the construction of the project—whether Precinct 2's budget or elsewhere within the county—will be determined as the project moves along. Riley said he estimates the project will cost $6 million-$8 million.
Riley said the new road serves as the first phase of a two-step project to provide drivers an alternate east-west route between FM 2978 and Hwy. 249.
"We'll do our phase, which is Dobbin Hufsmith [Road] over to [FM] 2978, and then the developers will take it west over to State Highway 249," he said. "They will build their roads when they develop the property [near Dobbin Hufsmith Road], and that will finish the road from Dobbin Hufsmith [Road] west to State Highway 249."
While there is no set start date for construction of the new road, Riley said the first phase of the connecting road should only take one year to complete.
"That's what we've been looking for is a safe, dependable route from Dobbin Hufsmith [Road] over to [FM] 2978 and then eventually from Dobbin Hufsmith back to State Highway 249," he said.
The new connecting road will tie into FM 2978 at Mansions Way, located near The Mansions on the Park apartment complex.[/caption]
"Whenever you tie into a state road like this, the intersection with the traffic signal is 90 percent of the issue," he said. "Well, [the traffic signal is] already there."
Riley said the connecting road eases both traffic congestion and the concern regarding an extension providing direct access in and out of The Woodlands.
"This new road will do exactly what everybody wanted me to do [with the Woodlands Parkway extension]," Riley said. "It will take the road and move it south. Instead of having to move [the east-west connection] any further south, it goes right into a new intersection that has already been created."
However, Precinct 2's planned road is not an extension of Woodlands Parkway.
"This new alignment, it will go around the property that is owned by The Woodlands Development Corporation and tie into the right of way that we've already acquired back over at Dobbin Hufsmith Road," Riley said.
Precinct 2 will fund the surveying and engineering aspect of the project, Riley said. A funding source for the construction of the project—whether Precinct 2's budget or elsewhere within the county—will be determined as the project moves along. Riley said he estimates the project will cost $6 million-$8 million.
Riley said the new road serves as the first phase of a two-step project to provide drivers an alternate east-west route between FM 2978 and Hwy. 249.
"We'll do our phase, which is Dobbin Hufsmith [Road] over to [FM] 2978, and then the developers will take it west over to State Highway 249," he said. "They will build their roads when they develop the property [near Dobbin Hufsmith Road], and that will finish the road from Dobbin Hufsmith [Road] west to State Highway 249."
While there is no set start date for construction of the new road, Riley said the first phase of the connecting road should only take one year to complete.
"That's what we've been looking for is a safe, dependable route from Dobbin Hufsmith [Road] over to [FM] 2978 and then eventually from Dobbin Hufsmith back to State Highway 249," he said.
