A transportation system management project to build two new ramps and re-stripe the Barker Cypress and Hwy. 290 intersection is set to begin later this month. The overpass was put to bid in July, and the $2.8 million project was awarded to Triple B Services with construction estimated to be complete by early 2013.

"We are going to start work on our project at Barker Cypress and Hwy. 290 any day now once we have our pre-construction conference," said Karen Othon, Texas Department of Transportation public information officer. "What this [public hearing] means is a kick-off to work. We have a contractor ready to start [the project], so we just need to hold that formal meeting and we will be ready to go."

Currently, vehicles move between outbound Hwy. 290 and the Barker Cypress overpass, which is configured with looped frontage roads on the north side of the intersection. However, growth of residential communities and nearby developments have led to an increased amount of traffic, said Mike Zientek, public involvement representative with the US 290 Program. As a result, motorists entering and exiting the highway are forced to merge with slowing vehicles entering the retail centers.

Upon completion, the new project should facilitate better traffic flow, Zientek said. One ramp will move outbound traffic from the frontage road directly to southbound Barker Cypress, while the other provides direct access from northbound Barker Cypress to outbound Hwy. 290. In addition, the re-striping of the overpass will provide a dedicated left turn lane on south Barker Cypress to access Hwy. 290.