Here's the latest updates on several road improvement projects happening around Tomball and Magnolia.
Ongoing projects
1. Walnut Creek bridge widening
Montgomery County Precinct 2 completed the widening of the Walnut Creek bridge on Nichols Sawmill Road on July 29, Precinct 2 officials confirmed in an email. The widening is part of a larger project widening Nichols Sawmill Road from Old Hockley Road to Commerce Street. The road was previously widened from Grand Pines Drive to Old Hockley Road last summer, according to previous Community Impact reporting. The widening of Nichols Sawmill Road from Commerce Street to FM 1774 will begin after the city of Magnolia acquires right of way as well as the approval of intersection and design plans by the Texas Department of Transportation, according to Precinct 2 officials.
- Timeline: summer 2022-TBD
- Cost: approximately $5.5 million (total road widening)
- Funding source: Montgomery County Precinct 2
TxDOT crews are continuing work on a project in Magnolia to widen FM 1488 from two to four lanes. The project, which spans from FM 1774 in Magnolia to west of FM 149, will also add a continuous left-turn lane. Work was 28% complete as of an Aug. 3 update from TxDOT, the latest available information.
- Timeline: June 2022-first quarter 2025
- Cost: $48.28 million
- Funding source: TxDOT
A project to widen FM 1488 from two lanes to four lanes between the Waller County line near Joseph Road to FM 1774 in Magnolia was 77% completed as of an Aug. 3 update from TxDOT. The project is expected to wrap up later this year.
- Timeline: November 2020-third quarter 2023
- Cost: $30.33 million
- Funding source: TxDOT
Upcoming projects
4. North Eldridge Parkway wideningHarris County Precinct 3 is proposing a project to widen the existing two-lane segment of North Eldridge Parkway between Spring Cypress Road and Gregson Road in Tomball. The project is in the design phase. The project would widen North Eldridge Parkway to a four-lane concrete boulevard with a raised median, and it also includes adding a traffic signal at Gregson Road and sidewalks along portions of the project. According to Precinct 3 information, the project scope also includes a study to determine if a traffic signal is needed at the intersection of Westlock Drive.
- Timeline: first quarter 2025-TBD
- Cost: $10 million
- Funding source: Precinct 3
