Mykawa Road widening project needs additional right of way to proceed

A project widening Mykawa Road from a two-lane undivided roadway to a four-lane divided roadway is expected to seek bids in May 2024 after right of way is acquired.

The Texas Department of Transportation project, pending final design considerations, requires 28 acres of additional right of way and will potentially displace two residents and a commercial business, according to the latest information from TxDOT Public Information Officer Danny Perez.

On Oct. 22, TxDOT released a notice indicating the opportunity for a public hearing on the Mykawa Road widening project. A hearing has not yet been held.

According to TxDOT, the proposed design includes a 10-foot path for pedestrians and bikers on the west side of the road separate from vehicle traffic. Additionally, it would include stormwater drainage and detention upgrades, new street lighting, and updated traffic signals.

The project, estimated by the city to start construction in 2025, encompasses the approximately 3 miles of Mykawa Road from Beltway 8 to FM 518. Pearland is taking the lead on its construction and funding with the assistance of TxDOT, which will reimburse some of the funds through the Federal Highway Administration.

Overall, the cost of the project is estimated by the city to be approximately $17.6 million, with $6.7 million being from certificates of obligation, or a form of borrowing that requires no voter approval, $8.6 million originating from Pearland’s 2007 bond program, and the rest coming from the Houston-Galveston Area Council.

A detention pond was previously completed April 13 at the corner of Mykawa Road and Orange Street as part of a 2019 bond program that improved drainage.