1. Pearland Parkway extension

The latest extension of Pearland Parkway is nearly open to traffic. After inclement weather delayed the project past its original anticipated completion date in April, the new extension is expected to open in late July. The project, which is part of a larger plan to eventually connect the thoroughfare to League City Parkway, extends Pearland Parkway 4,500 feet from east of Oiler Drive to Dixie Farm Road. The new segment will be four lanes of concrete curb-and-gutter roadway with raised medians. A bridge crossing at Cowart’s Creek is complete. Traffic signal installation at Oiler Drive and Dixie Farm Road is 80 percent complete, and roadway paving is 98 percent complete.

Timeline: March 2014-July 2015
Cost: $9.5 million
Funding sources: City of Pearland, Texas Department of Transportation

2. CR 48 widening

CR 48 soon will be widened as part of a TxDOT project. Nearly two miles of CR 48, from FM 518 to CR 894, will be expanded. The project will widen the thoroughfare from two to four lanes and include 10-foot shoulders. Webber LLC was awarded the construction bid for the project. Work on the project is expected to begin in early July.

Timeline: summer 2015-late 2016
Cost: $12.2 million
Funding sources: TxDOT

3. Garden Road traffic signals

The city of Pearland project to install traffic signals and make median improvements at the intersection of Garden Road and FM 518 is complete. Traffic signal activation into the city’s Intelligent Traffic System took place May 21. The project included four signal poles, two pedestrian signals, wheelchair ramps, sidewalk extensions, signage and a crosswalk in addition to center median improvements.

Timeline: September 2014-May 2015
Cost: $290,561
Funding sources: City of Pearland

4. Bailey Road widening

Bidding for the city of Pearland’s Bailey Road widening project began June 16. In an effort to improve east-west travel in Pearland, the project—which received funding as part of Houston-Galveston Area Council’s Transportation Improvement Program—will widen the thoroughfare from FM 1128 to Veterans Drive. Bailey Road—a two-lane asphalt roadway with ditches—will expand to four, 12-foot lanes with concrete curbs and gutters. The project also includes raised medians, left-turn bays, traffic signals and improved underground drainage. A 10-foot-wide path will be installed on the north side of the road for pedestrians and cyclists.

Timeline: summer 2015-summer 2017
Cost: $26.6 million
Funding sources: City of Pearland, H-GAC

5. Friendswood Link Road widening

Progress continues on the city of Friendswood’s project to widen Friendswood Link Road. The project—which received a Texas General Land Office disaster recovery grant—will expand the thoroughfare from FM 518 to Blackhawk Boulevard. The portion of the project in Galveston County,
FM 518 to Hibiscus Lane, will expand from two to three lanes with a dedicated turn lane, new sidewalks and improved drainage. The Harris County segment, from Hibiscus Lane to Blackhawk Boulevard, will widen to from two to four lanes with medians, new sidewalks and improved drainage. The first and second portions of the paving on FM 518 are complete. Overall the project is about 51 percent complete.

Timeline: fall 2014-winter 2015
Cost: $5.3 million
Funding sources: City of Friendswood, Texas General Land Office grant