Several road projects in The Woodlands area are underway in April, and a direct connector is planned on I-45. Here are the most recent project updates from the Texas Department of Transportation and several other entities. This list is not comprehensive.

Upcoming projects

1. I-45 improvements


Project: A direct connector from I-45 from Shenandoah Park Drive to Hwy. 242 will be built, including drainage improvements, according to the Texas Department of Transportation. The funding will be 80% federal and 20% state, according to TxDOT.

Update: The project is slated to begin in early 2025, with 683 working days, according to TxDOT. As of late March, a start date had not been announced.


Timeline: 2025-third quarter 2029

Cost: $42.63 million

Funding sources: TxDOT, federal funds

Ongoing projects


2. Robinson Road realignment

Project: The project will align Robinson Road across Hanna Road. The project will include realigning a portion of the Union Pacific Railroad, which is crossed by Robinson Road.

Update: A new railroad crossing at Union Pacific Railroad crossing will be built as part of the realignment effort, but the existing crossing will still be passable until the new crossing is complete, officials said. Oak Ridge North officials said a May completion date was targeted.

Timeline: February 2024-May


Cost: $7.42 million

Funding source: city of Oak Ridge North

3. David Memorial Drive extension

Project: A project to extend David Memorial Drive to Hwy. 242 began in September 2023 under the terms of an interlocal agreement between the city of Shenandoah and Montgomery County.


Update: The first phase of work is completed to the Conroe city limits, Bleyl said. The remaining portion in the city of Conroe is unscheduled, but it will be needed to complete the project, he said. Funding options for the final section are being explored, and the estimate to complete construction is $2.5 million, Bleyl said.

Timeline: September 2023-March (Phase 1), TBD (Phase 2)

Cost: $7.8 million

Funding sources: city of Shenandoah, Montgomery County


4. Hwy. 242 widening

Project: TxDOT is using existing right of way on Hwy. 242 between FM 1488 and I-45 to widen lanes and restripe the intersections.

Update: As of the most recent information released by TxDOT in February, the project was 45% complete.

Timeline: Oct. 23, 2023-fourth quarter 2026

Cost: $29.11 million

Funding sources: federal, state funds

Completed projects

5. Woodlands Parkway and Kuykendahl Road lane improvements

Project: As part of a project to help traffic flow along westbound Woodlands Parkway between Kuykendahl Road and FM 2978, Montgomery County Precinct 3 made several lane improvements. A third thru lane was added just east of Kuykendahl Road to Lake Woodlands Drive. This retained a dedicated right-turn lane onto northbound Kuykendahl Road and a dedicated right-turn lane into Sterling Ridge Village Center.

Update: A new signal pole and mast arm for westbound Woodlands Parkway traffic at Kuykendahl Road replaced a temporary pole.

Timeline: late 2024-March

Cost: $789,663

Funding source: Montgomery County Precinct 3

6. Grogans Mill Road and Research Forest Drive turn lane extension

Project: The project extends the deceleration lane from westbound Research Forest Drive onto northbound Grogans Mill Road.

Update: As of March 14, the paving was complete and the right lane was being prepared for opening, engineer John Bleyl said.

Timeline: September-March

Cost: $240,000

Funding sources: Montgomery County Precinct 2, TxDOT