The $14.89 million FM 1774 Segment 1 widening project—originally scheduled for completion in September 2014—opened to drivers in early June after delays due to right of way acquisition, utility relocation and environmental concerns, according to the Texas Department of Transportation.

“When the project started there was still a substantial amount of right of way that needed to be acquired, and as we progressed, we ran into existing utilities that had not been relocated or were placed in the wrong spot,” said Deidrea George, TxDOT Houston District public information officer. “There were three abandoned underground gasoline storage tanks that had to be removed along with the contaminated soil before the construction could continue.”

Segment 1 delays

In June, many residents and City Council members voiced concerns when the long-awaited Segment 1 project opened as two lanes and right- and left-turn lanes instead of the planned four-lane roadway with a center-turn lane.

During a June 9 Magnolia City Council meeting, Richard Brown, TxDOT professional engineer for Montgomery County, received a plaque to commemorate the opening of Segment 1 and answered questions from council members about the project.

“FM 1774 is going to be four lanes,” Brown said. “We are waiting for approval through the [Environmental Protection Agency] process because Magnolia is in a nonattainment area for air quality and is lumped in with Houston.”

The EPA clean air regulations limit the amount of new traffic lanes that can be opened in a particular nonattainment area, George said. The Federal Highway Administration is reviewing the 2040 Transportation Conformity documentation to approve the four-lane restriping of Segment 1, which is expected for approval in July, she said.

Once the project is approved by the FHWA the project must be added to the Houston-Galveston Area Council transportation improvement program and regional transportation plan, which is expected within the next few weeks, George said.

“At that point TxDOT will either let a new contract or will modify an existing contract to do the striping,” George said. “With the new pavement already in place, the restriping is a minor construction process with minimal disruption to the traveling public.”

The EPA request to stripe the project as four lanes was submitted several months ago, but the approval process is lengthy, Magnolia City Administrator Paul Mendes said.

“We knew this from the get-go that they were going to have to stripe it this way until the EPA approved it, but we’ve been waiting on them,” he said.

Lasting effects

A number of downtown Magnolia businesses have been affected by extended FM 1774 construction. Barbara Mitchell, owner of Sweet Magnolia Fabric Shoppe, said she sold her business along FM 1774 in May and relocated it to Plantersville due to a loss in foot traffic from the road work.

“[FM 1774 is] one of the biggest improvements in the last 30 years that will make such a difference for the city.” —Paul Mendes, Magnolia city administrator

“I lost so many customers because they were scared to turn off of the street,” Mitchell said. “I had a nice parking lot out front, and [TxDOT regained the right of way] and put in parallel parking in the shoulder.”

In addition, Angelic Cupcakes and More in downtown Magnolia closed in preparation for the Segment 1 construction that began in September 2013, and Kemah Seafood closed in late spring.
Moving forward

During the duration of the FM 1774 Segment 1 project, TxDOT held monthly partner meetings that city and state officials were invited to attend, George said.

The city continues to communicate with TxDOT regarding resident and commuter complaints about stoplight timing issues, Magnolia Mayor Todd Kana said. “TxDOT is aware of those concerns and is working through surveys right now,” Kana said. “We have also asked them to alternate the green lights at Melton Street and FM 1488 as opposed to FM 1774 and Melton Street going green at the same time because then nobody really gets to make a left-hand turn.”

In addition, a dedicated left-turn arrow will be implemented at the stoplight on Buddy Riley Boulevard at FM 1774 during the restriping process, Brown said.

More construction is on the way when the $18 million Segment 2 FM 1774 widening project begins this summer, George said.

Once completed, Mendes said the widening of FM 1774 will drastically improve mobility in Magnolia.

“That’s one of the biggest improvements in the last 30 years that will make such a difference for the city,” he said.