Local projects

Phase 1 Westpark Tollway extension/FM 1093 widening

FM 1093 will be a two-lane frontage road in each direction on either side of the Westpark Tollway. The Westpark Tollway will be extended 2.3 miles west from the Grand Parkway and will be four lanes of concrete-paved highway with two lanes in each direction. An overpass will be built above the intersection of Katy-Gaston Road and Spring Green Boulevard. Timeline: February 2016-February 2018

I-69 widening project

Segments 2 and 3 of the I-69 widening project, stretching from the Grand Parkway to Spur 10, will continue through spring 2019. An HOV lane and two additional lanes will be added from the Grand Parkway to FM 762, and one additional lane will be added from FM 762 to Spur 10. Additional access ramps will be added in the Richmond area near Williams Way. Timeline: January 2016-spring 2019

Hwy. 90A widening and FM 359 bridge

A widening  project is underway on Hwy. 90A to increase the number of lanes from four to six and to improve railroad crossings at FM 359 and points west of Richmond. The project aims to ease congestion and improve railroad crossing safety along Hwy. 90A. Timeline: summer 2015-fall 2018

Harlem Road widening, new U-turns and intersection improvements

Harlem Road is being widened from a two to four-lane asphalt road and a center divider is being constructed along Harlem Road from north of West Airport Boulevard to south of Plantation Drive. A traffic signal will be installed at the intersection of Harlem and Harvest Garden boulevards. Additionally, the left-turn lanes will be widened, and new U-turns will be constructed at the intersection of Harlem Road and the Grand Parkway. All improvements are expected to be complete by spring 2017. Timeline: completion by May 2017

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Regional

Grand Parkway feeder road study in the works

[caption id="attachment_211609" align="alignright" width="460"] In coming years the Grand Parkway may gain feeder roads from I-10 to I-69.[/caption]

The Texas Department of Transportation has begun studying Segment D of the Grand Parkway to determine what improvement projects are necessary in the area, said Deidrea George, public information officer for TxDOT’s Houston District.

One project under consideration is the addition of feeder roads to Segment D, which covers the 17.4-mile stretch from Hwy. 59 in Sugar Land to I-10 in the Katy area. Because Segment D was the first segment of the Grand Parkway—it was completed in August 1994—frontage roads were not deemed a necessity at the time.

“When it was completed, and even when it was studied back in the ’70s, frontage roads were not considered because of the times,” George said. “Twenty-plus years ago, it was country out there.”

However, due to exponential residential and commercial growth in the Katy area over the last 20 years, George said there is an increased need for frontage roads. TxDOT’s Project Development section is in the preliminary planning process to make feeder roads on Segment D a reality, she said.

“[Plans] are preliminary at best,” George said. “But they are in the process of a study in the area to see about improvements. Clearly, continuous frontage road access would be one of those things that they’re studying. The connectivity would be better with continuous frontage roads.”

George said results from the study will not be made public until they are finalized. A timeline and funding sources have not yet been determined, she said.