MCTRA’s lanes, which stretch 3.6 miles from Spring Creek to just south of FM 149 in Pinehurst, were slated to open in February; however, Riley said rain delays have caused the opening of the lanes to be pushed back. He said he anticipates a March or April opening, but an exact timeline was unknown as of late January.
“All this rain puts a stop to construction, which therefore delays the ability to open the lanes on time,” Riley said.
Both MCTRA and the Harris County Toll Road Authority have been working with the Texas Department of Transportation since 2017 to extend the Tomball Tollway—the tolled portion of Hwy. 249—from FM 2920 in Tomball to FM 1774 in Todd Mission with a nontolled segment to Hwy. 105 in Navasota, Community Impact Newspaper previously reported. HCTRA opened the tolled lanes of its extension from FM 2920 to Spring Creek in mid-December, which connects to the MCTRA portion.
MCTRA’s $63 million portion of the Hwy. 249 project includes two main lanes in each direction between existing frontage roads, Community Impact Newspaper previously reported. The project also includes construction of a main toll gantry as well as tolled entrance and exit ramps. Toll prices are slated to be $1.25 at the main toll gantry north of Decker Prairie Road and $0.50 for the two ramp toll gantries south of Vallie Street in the Decker Prairie area, according to a February 2018 traffic and revenue study by engineering firm CDM Smith.
“I’m obviously disappointed that the opening got delayed, but those lanes will still open this spring,” Riley said.
