Transportation Updates[/caption] Friendswood roadway improvements[/caption]

1. Friendswood roadway improvements The first street in a group of repavement projects is complete, according to city of Friendswood officials. The repaving of Shadowbend Avenue, which had more than 1,200 feet of its surface replaced, was completed in July. Townes Road, which is also undergoing repavement construction, is about 35 percent complete, officials said. Mary Ann Drive and Winding Road will also have portions of roadway repaved as part of the project. Mary Ann Drive is under construction, and the project is about 2 percent complete. Friendswood residents approved a bond referendum in 2013 to fund the repaving of these streets, which were grouped together for one contract. City Council awarded the construction contract to Houston-based El Dorado Paving Company on Dec. 7. Once the repavement of Townes Road is complete, the contractor will begin work on Winding Road.

1A. Mary Ann Drive will have 16,001 feet of its roadway replaced. 1B. Shadowbend Avenue will have 1,224 feet of its roadway replaced. 1C. Townes Road will have 786 feet of its roadway replaced. 1D. Winding Road will have 2,133 feet of its roadway replaced.

Timeline: March 2016-first quarter 2017 Cost: $2.5 million Funding sources: city of Friendswood, Texas Department of Transportation

2. FM 518 Overlay project Work began Aug. 29 on FM 518 from SH 288 to San Antonio Avenue in Pearland.  The project is multistep; crews will mil the old surface, then repair deficiencies in the concrete layer, according to TxDOT officials. A seal coat will then be used to protect against water damage to extend the life of the surface. Finally, the asphalt layer will complete the project. Work will be completed between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. Sundays through Thursdays, with no work occurring on Fridays and Saturdays, according to officials. The project bid was awarded to Durwood Greene Construction in July.

Timeline: October 2016-October 2017 Cost: $4 million Funding sources: Houston-Galveston Area Council, city of Pearland

3. Bailey Road widening As part of the city of Pearland project to expand Bailey Road, Veterans Drive will be closed until late September, officials said. The city closed Veterans Drive south of Bailey Road on July 25, and drivers must take Wellborne Road to Williams Road as a detour. All properties on Veterans Drive will be accessible during construction, officials said. The project also caused the closure of Berry Road at Bailey Road. Drivers are to take McLean Road to Amie Lane. The Bailey Road project will widen the thoroughfare from two to four lanes from FM 1128 to Veterans Drive. The project, which is expected to ease east-west traffic congestion, will also include raised medians and a 10-foot-wide pedestrian walkway on the north side of Bailey Road. H-GAC awarded funding for the project as part of its 2013 Transportation Improvement Plan.

Timeline: September 2015-September 2017 Cost: $21.3 million Funding sources: H-GAC, city of Pearland

Friendswood Link Road widening[/caption]

4. Friendswood Link Road widening The expansion of Friendswood Link Road from FM 518 to Blackhawk Boulevard in Friendswood is nearing completion, officials said. City Council is expected to accept completion of the project at its October meeting. The project, which will provide an improved emergency evacuation route out of the city, received funding from a Texas General Land Office disaster recovery grant in the wake of Hurricane Ike in 2008. Friendswood Link has been widened from two to three lanes from FM 518 to Hibiscus Lane. From Hibiscus Lane to Blackhawk Boulevard, the road has been expanded from two to four lanes with medians.

Timeline: fall 2014-September 2016 Cost: $5.3 million Funding sources: Texas General Land Office grant, city of Friendswood