Construction started on the Hwy. 288 toll lane project in early November in Harris County, and Brazoria County officials will soon follow in lockstep.

The Brazoria County Commissioners Court approved a construction manager contract to oversee and push forward the project. HDR Engineering Inc. was approved as the project manager, and the county began the bidding process in early December.

The project, which will add two lanes in each direction, is expected to cost about $100 million and will run from CR 58 near Manvel and extend north to Beltway 8, Brazoria County engineer Matt Hanks said.

County officials anticipates construction will begin in April with an estimated completion date in mid-2019, which is when the Harris County tolled segments are slated for completion.

The Hwy. 288 toll project is separated into six segments from Brazoria County to Hwy. 59 near downtown. The five Harris County segments are expected to cost about $850 million.

The Brazoria County portion was officially named the Brazoria County Expressway during the Nov. 8 commissioners court meeting. The county also advanced $302,105 to the Brazoria County Toll Road Authority for feasibility studies and related engineering services, according to county documents.

The toll road will fall under the authority of the BCTRA, which will allow the toll road to remain under local control rather than under the control of TxDOT. The county is working through a traffic and revenue study, which will establish toll rates. Rates will be set by commissioners when the project nears completion in 2019.

A second phase may be considered in the future to extend the toll lanes further south in Brazoria County.