One major Hwy. 290 expansion project milestone was reached in mid-October when the new direct connector ramp from Hwy. 290 eastbound to I-10 opened to drivers.

"This area is one of the riskiest and most accident-prone sections of highway we have in our community," said Ned Holmes, former Texas Department of Transportation commissioner. "This [connector] is going to be a big help."

TxDOT broke ground on the $151.5 million project in July 2011 in an effort to eliminate the need for drivers to first merge onto Loop 610 to reach I-10. Representatives from TxDOT and local elected officials gathered on the new connector Oct. 10 to celebration the completion of the project that is expected to enhance safety and relieve congestion in the area.

Aside from providing a safer option for drivers, the new route provides a less-congested route for motorists traveling downtown who want to avoid Galleria-area traffic that typically backs up on Loop 610.

"When you put three roads together—Hwy. 290, Loop 610 and I-10—it gets tricky to get from road to road and is quite dangerous," said state Rep. Dwayne Bohac, R-Houston. "We used to call it 'the spaghetti bowl.' This [new connector] will be a great asset for those of us who live in Northwest and West Houston."

According to TxDOT, more than 250,000 drivers experience the so-called "West Loop weave" daily, which will be eliminated for drivers traveling inbound on Hwy. 290.

"This [connector] sells itself," said state Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston. "We will appreciate it very soon. One of the easiest votes in the world is to vote for highway funding, and we need to use this project as an example of how government works."

Also referred to as Project K, the direct connector ramp is one of several ongoing projects to widen Hwy. 290 from Loop 610 to the Grand Parkway. Several portions of the project in the Cy-Fair area are under construction, from W. Little York Road to the Mueschke Road intersection.

The widening project is expected to be complete in its entirety by 2017, according to TxDOT.