1. Hwy. 290 Project A widening

The Texas Department of Transportation awarded the last of the 13 construction contracts that make up the Hwy. 290 expansion June 25 for $60 million. Accelerated by two years as a result of funding from Proposition 1—legislation that redirected money from the Rainy Day Fund to the State Highway Fund—the project covers a five-mile segment from Badtke Road to FM 2920. Williams Brothers Construction Co. will begin work in July, widening the highway from two to three lanes in each direction Timeline: July 2015-late 2017 Cost: $60 million Funding sources: TxDOT

2. The Grand Parkway

Work is ramping up on the three segments of the Grand Parkway scheduled to be open to drivers by 2016. Northern portions of Cypress Rosehill, Telge and Mueschke roads will be closed at various points this summer as crews work on future Grand Parkway interchanges.      Hwy. 290 eastbound and westbound frontage roads will also be closed along Bauer and Mason roads through July 31. Segments F-1, F-2 and G—which run from Hwy. 290 to Hwy. 59—are under simultaneous construction and will total 37 miles of Houston’s third outer loop. For additional, up-to-date information on the construction progress and lane closures for each of the segments, visit www.grandparkway99.com. Timeline: summer 2013-December 2015 Cost: $1 billion Funding sources: TxDOT

3. Greenhouse Road extension

Work is continuing throughout the summer on a Greenhouse Road extension from Alston Hills Drive to Towne Lake Greene Trail. Construction crews have begun forming the path for the roadway on previously undeveloped land. Harris County Precinct 3 officials said the project, which connects two existing pieces of the roadway, will improve mobility as a concrete boulevard with two lanes in each direction. Timeline: April-November Cost:  $5.9 million Funding sources: Harris County Precinct 3

4. Beltway 8 direct connector

Visible progress is being made on a Harris County Toll Road Authority project that will add a direct connector from Hwy. 249 southbound to Beltway 8 westbound lanes. Work on the overhead beams of the incoming ramp is set to continue through July. HCTRA expects additional short-duration lane closures on the Hwy. 249 frontage road from Greens Road to Beltway 8 during weekends. The Hwy. 249 southbound exit to Beltway 8 will also be closed during these times. More details are at www.hctra.org. Timeline: Summer 2014-fall 2015 Cost: $25 million Funding sources:  HCTRA

5. FM 1960/Hwy. 6 improvements

The construction of medians on Hwy. 6 between I-10 and Pointe Northwest Boulevard wrapped up this spring; crews are finishing up the sodding and striping process this summer. Meanwhile, construction is progressing on medians along FM 1960 from Windermere Lakes Boulevard to Mills Road. The medians are replacing a two-way center-turn lane in an effort to improve safety for drivers. Timeline: fall 2014-late summer 2015 Cost: $3.9 million Funding sources: TxDOT