Photo by Adam Yanelli In the aftermath of Hurricane Ike in 2008, a number of communities affected by the storm identified a need to improve evacuation routes to be better prepared and lessen traffic congestion in the event of future disasters.
One project identified by the city of Friendswood to improve the flow of traffic in and out of the city in an emergency is the widening of Friendswood Link Road, Friendswood Planning Manager Nick Haby said. The city secured $4.6 million to fund the widening through a Texas General Land Office grant designed to improve hurricane evacuation routes.
"The project will create a four-lane boulevard on the Harris County section of the road with medians," Haby said. "On the Galveston County portion of the road, it will be a two-lane road with a dedicated turning lane."
The Harris County portion of the project extends from Blackhawk Boulevard to Hibiscus Lane, while the Galveston County portion extends from Hibiscus Lane to FM 518, he said.
