TRANSPORTATION UPDATES TRANSPORTATION UPDATES[/caption]

1.FM 1488 at FM 149 overpass


FM 1488 at FM 149 overpass FM 1488 at FM 149 overpass[/caption]

Following delays in right of way acquisition, the Texas Department of Transportation is working to create columns and beams on the east and west sides of the road to create entrance ramps. The overpass will feature two sets of cloverleaf access ramps, including one on either side of FM 1488 near Magnolia High School and another across the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad at FM 149. The road will be widened from one lane in each direction to four lanes total with a 16-foot turn lane in the median along FM 1488 from the Mostyn Manor subdivision to Mill Creek Road.


Timeline: March 2015-summer 2017
Cost: $27.65 million
Funding sources: TxDOT



2.Hwy. 249 extension


Design work is nearly complete on the Harris and Montgomery County portions of the Hwy. 249 extension. Phases 2, 3 and 4 will extend the tolled bypass from north of FM 2920 across Spring Creek, from Pinehurst to FM 149, and across FM 1488 to Hwy. 105 in Navasota. Construction on Phase 2 is expected to begin in early 2017.


Timeline: January 2017-early 2019
Cost: $165 million (Harris County portion), $62 million (Montgomery County portion), $550 million (TxDOT portion)
Funding sources: Harris County Toll Road Authority, Montgomery County Toll Road Authority, TxDOT



3.FM 2920, Business 249 improvements


Construction is underway to overlay portions of Business 249 and FM 2920 from Hwy. 249 to Howard Street. The project will remove parallel parking along Main Street in downtown Tomball, creating a 4-lane road with a center turn lane.


Timeline: June 2016-fall 2016
Cost: $3.8 million
Funding sources: TxDOT, city of Tomball



4.Fagan Lane


Construction began on the new Harris County road in late June. The thoroughfare will run parallel to the Grand Parkway, connecting Cedar Lane and Telge Road. The project is expected to take 30 months to complete.


Timeline: June 2016-late 2018
Cost: $3.2 million
Funding sources: Harris County Precinct 4



5.Research Forest Drive widening


The Research Forest Drive expansion will widen the road from two to four lanes with asphalt shoulders between FM 2978 and Branch Crossing Drive. The project will be funded by the successful November Montgomery County road bond election and is expected to reduce congestion on Research Forest Drive and parallel routes, county officials said. Engineering services for the design phase were awarded April 12.


Timeline: TBA
Cost: $8 million
Funding sources: Montgomery County Precinct 2



6.Research Forest Drive widening


The FM 2978 widening is a two-part, 6.5-mile widening project between Dry Creek and FM 1488 in Magnolia. The first section, from FM 1488 to south of Dry Creek, is delayed until August because of utility relocations and sound wall issues, according to TxDOT. The second section, from south of Dry Creek to Hufsmith Conroe Road has been suspended due to AT&T utility relocations. The second section has a projected completion of late 2017. A timeline for the first section has not yet been determined.


Timeline: August 2016-TBA
Cost: $23.9 million
Funding sources: TxDOT



7.Hufsmith-Kohrville Road segments 1-4


Planned improvements include the widening of Hufsmith-Kohrville Road from two to four lanes between Hollow Glen Lane and south of Willow Creek Estates Lane in Tomball. Segments 2-4 are in the study phase. All mainlanes between Spring Cypress Road and Hollow Glen Lane—Segment 1—have been completed.


Timeline: Segment 1 (Feb. 2015-July 2016), Segment 2-4 (TBA)
Cost: $29.5 million
Funding sources: Harris County