Austin Parkway improvements[/caption]
1. Austin Parkway improvements
Construction on improvements to Austin Parkway between Hwy. 6 and Commonwealth Boulevard in Sugar Land continues. Reconstruction of the second half of the Austin Parkway and Cross Lakes Boulevard intersection started Jan. 14. There are alternating lane closures on Cross Lakes that are expected to last until early February. The northbound lanes of Austin Parkway are closed, and the southbound lanes are being used for two-way traffic while work continues to rebuild the road. Work on the southbound lanes was completed in October. The lane closures and construction have increased traffic congestion in the area, especially during school hours. Construction started in June on improvements to Austin Parkway and Lakefield Boulevard and includes the reconstruction of a total of 2,803 linear feet of 8-inch concrete pavement and the replacement of a total of 3,000 linear feet of 12-inch water line. A 10-foot wide concrete trail on the northbound side of Austin Parkway will also be constructed as part of the project.
Timeline: March 2015-August 2016 Cost: $3.4 million Funding sources: city of Sugar Land
2. Williams Trace Boulevard improvements
The final engineering design for Phase 1 of reconstruction of Williams Trace Boulevard between Austin Parkway and Hwy. 6 in Sugar Land is about 50 percent complete. Construction on the project is expected to begin this fall. As part of the project, approximately 1 mile of roadway and water main pipes will be replaced. New fire hydrants and storm drains will be added, and ornamental traffic signals will be installed at the intersection of Williams Trace Boulevard and Austin Parkway. A 10-foot wide path for pedestrian and bicycle use will also be built along the east side of the roadway. Final cost estimates for Phase 1 have not been determined.
Timeline: fall 2016-fall 2017 Cost: TBD Funding sources: city of Sugar Land
3. Hwy. 6 expansion
The engineering design for Phase 3 of the Hwy. 6 expansion project in Sugar Land started in late July and is expected to be complete by this summer. The project calls for Hwy. 6 to be expanded from three to four lanes between Brooks Street and Lexington Boulevard. The project also calls for drainage improvements along the roadway. Construction is expected to begin in August and will take 150 days from the notice to proceed to complete.
Timeline: August 2016-early 2017 Cost: $7.6 million Funding sources: city of Sugar Land, Federal Highway Administration, Texas Department of Transportation
LJ Parkway extension[/caption]
4. LJ Parkway extension
The developer-led project to connect LJ Parkway to Commonwealth Boulevard to provide a new route into the master-planned community of Riverstone in Sugar Land has been delayed due to weather. The project is now expected to be complete by the end of February. Riverstone Development is leading the project, which is located in the extraterritorial jurisdiction of Sugar Land. The project includes the construction of LJ Parkway as a four-lane, curb-and-gutter roadway from just north of University Boulevard to just south of Commonwealth Boulevard. A single-lane roundabout connects Commonwealth and LJ Parkway north of the CenterPoint easement. The project also includes the addition of sidewalks and landscaping along the new roadway.
Timeline: July 2015-February 2016 Cost: $2.4 million Funding sources: Riverstone Development
5. University Boulevard extension
Construction on Phase 1 of the University Boulevard North project in Sugar Land started in August and is about 10 percent complete. Storm sewers have been installed, and construction on the roadway started in December. This is the final portion of the University extension, which will be completed in two phases. A timeline for Phase 2 has not been determined. Phase 1 will extend University across Hwy. 90 to approximately 1,000 feet north of the Union Pacific railroad tracks. The project includes improvements to Hwy. 90, a new traffic signal system at the intersection and a four-lane boulevard section on University with accommodations for pedestrians.
Timeline: August 2015-March (Phase 1) Cost: $5.3 million (Phase 1) Funding sources: city of Sugar Land, Fort Bend County, Sugar Land tax increment reinvestment zone district
6. Turtle Creek Drive reconstruction
The project to replace water lines and remove and replace the road surface on Turtle Creek Drive from Hilton Head Drive to Mission Valley Drive in Missouri City is on schedule for completion in June. The contractor started the removal of the roadway section in front of the clubhouse parking lot along Turtle Creek Drive on Jan. 8. The contractor has made this section of pavement a priority and is working to replace it as soon as possible, weather permitting. Work continues to pave the new roadway on other parts of the project. There are alternate lane closures throughout the duration of the project.
Timeline: May 2015-June 2016 Cost: $2.2 million Funding sources: city of Missouri City
Vicksburg Boulevard extension[/caption]
7. Vicksburg Boulevard extension
Construction to extend Vicksburg Boulevard from Aldridge Drive to Lake Olympia Parkway in Missouri City is expected to be complete in early February. The scope of the project includes the construction of a mast-arm turn signal and turn-lane improvements at Lake Olympia, a four-lane boulevard roadway, bicycle lanes in both directions, sidewalks, streetlights and accompanying drainage structures.
Timeline: January 2015-February 2016 Cost: $3.3 million Funding sources: Fort Bend County, Missouri City Development Authority, Municipal Utility Districts Nos. 47 and 48
