The Texas Department of Transportation plans a number of road projects in the Spring and Klein area to reduce congestion and travel times on state roads, such as FM 1960, I-45 and Hwy. 249, in the next few years.

Patrick Gant, TxDOT's schematic design supervisor for the Houston District, explained some of these projects to community members attending the May 10 Houston Northwest Chamber of Commerce luncheon at Raveneaux Country Club on Cypresswood Drive.

Here are some of the projects TxDOT is working on:

1. A proposed project on Hwy. 249 will restripe a portion of the roadway, increasing the number of lanes from six to eight by converting the inside shoulders to lanes. TxDOT Public Information Officer Danny Perez said the project will put the project out for bids in June, and the project will cost $450,000.

2. Work on the project to install curb ramps on FM 1960 to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act is underway and about 60 percent complete, Gant said. The project is expected to wrap up in early 2019, and it was delayed because of utility conflicts, Perez said. The estimated cost of the project is $2.3 million.

3. Another project that has garnered many questions from residents will widen FM 1960 between Cutten Road and Hwy. 249, adding several additional turn lanes. The project is scheduled for early 2020 with an authorized cost of $16.4 million, Perez said.

4. Plans to address congestion on I-45 will also affect the Spring and Klein area. An environmental linkage study over the next three years will examine problems and potential solutions, TxDOT officials have said.