The terms of a partnership between Harris County and the Texas Department of Transportation regarding the expansion of Hwy. 290 have changed.

During a June 10 meeting, Harris County commissioners voted to end the county's work on the reversible managed lane concept for the highway.

Two years ago, Harris County and TxDOT approved a memorandum of understanding to work together on expanding Hwy. 290. The proposal called for constructing a three-lane reversible managed lane facility along Hwy. 290 that would combine high occupancy vehicle lanes and toll lanes.

According to a June 4 Harris County court order regarding the MOU, the Hwy. 290 improvements developed by TxDOT will go forward without the installation of reversible managed lanes by Harris County.

"I think [this agreement] is going to pay dividends to our residents and people who travel through this area for years to come," Harris County Judge Ed Emmett said.

TxDOT spokeswoman Karen Othon said TxDOT will re-examine what the interim phase of the Hwy. 290 project looks like and work on details for the best plan to accommodate drivers.

"This does not affect current construction," Othon said. "TxDOT is proceeding with the current construction schedule [and] does not foresee any interruption in ongoing construction activities. The final lane striping and barriers will be placed towards the end of the construction which is estimated in 2017."

Harris County Toll Road Authority—which originally was going to contribute $400 million—will make a partnership-in-mobility contribution of $200 million to the expansion project.

"It is prudent on the part of both agencies to constantly look for ways to improve and enhance the projects we are working to deliver," Othon said. "In this case, we mutually believe a reallocation of resources and responsibility is the way forward."

There are currently nine active contracts under construction along Hwy. 290 from Loop 610 to Mueschke Road in Cypress.