Work was completed on the new cloverleaf access ramps at Hwy. 290 and Barker Cypress Road in early May, allowing for additional traffic movements at an intersection that has seen increased congestion because of an influx of residential and commercial developments in the area.
"This project reinforced TxDOT's commitment to improving traffic flow by speeding up implementation of operational improvements that are part of the overall US 290 Program," said Karen Othon, public information officer.
The two ramps allow access to southbound Barker Cypress for motorists traveling outbound on the Hwy. 290 frontage road, while giving inbound motorists access to northbound Barker Cypress without traveling through the signalized intersection.
"The community will benefit with less congestion at the intersection as they travel home or to shop at the various businesses located there," Othon said.
Construction on the medians and dedicated turn lanes on the overpass is expected to continue through June. Residents from Towne Lake and Riata Ranch and other surrounding subdivisions have sent letters to TxDOT and community officials concerning increased congestion caused by the temporary removal of the right turn lane on the Barker Cypress overpass, which harms mobility during morning and afternoon commutes.
"The reason they are having to move everything over, and the reason that right-only is not there right now is because they are putting medians in on the bridge," said Mike Zientek, public involvement representative with the US 290 Program. "The median will allow concrete to be put down to separate the dedicated left turn north and south on Barker Cypress to Hwy. 290, which will help immensely."
Once completed, the interchange will feature two detention ponds to help combat potential flooding in the area, which is common in areas that have seen increased development.
Other transportation system management projects along the Hwy. 290 corridor at Telge and Huffmeister roads and the Fry, Cypress–Rosehill and Spring Cypress roads interchanges are expected to be complete in June. Upon completion of the TSM projects, the Hwy. 290 main lanes and frontage roads will be primed for reconstruction, according to TxDOT's plans.
"The only two projects that are left to bid between Hwy. 6 and Loop 610 are the piece between Pinemont and W. 34th Street and the main lanes of Hwy. 290 at the W. 34th interchange," Zientek said. "We are going to take bids on Project J2 and the project from Telge Road to Mueschke Road before the end of the year."
