Construction of the Westside Loop—a new road that connects FM 1097 to Old Montgomery Road—is nearing completion. Officials hope to open the new roadway in January. The city of Willis decided to undertake the $1.2 million project to address traffic congestion at the FM 1097 intersection with I-45— particularly traffic caused by the two-way feeder road on the east side of the interstate, City Manager Hector Forestier said. “We are still working with TxDOT to get permits and get the two-way feeder road on I-45 converted into a one-way feeder road going south,” Forestier said. “That will actually increase the traffic that will use the Westside Loop to go north.” After opening the roadway, Forestier said a traffic study will be conducted to justify the need of a traffic signal at the new intersection between the Westside Loop and FM 1097. “The road is pretty much complete,” Forestier said. “The first step would be to open the feeder road as a one way road, then to conduct the traffic study on the Westside Loop.”