Montgomery County news — February 2012

"We will be negotiating who is going to build it, operate it and how it will be funded," Doyal said.

One of the key components that will be analyzed in the coming months by the Montgomery and Harris County Toll Road authorities will be traffic counts along Hwy. 249 to determine if enough toll revenue can be generated in order to make the project financially viable.

Recently-passed legislation has enabled TxDOT to seek private partnerships in order to fund the construction of three major thoroughfares in the greater Houston area, including Hwy. 249. Doyal has estimated the cost of the six-lane expansion from Spring Cypress to FM 1774 could be between $250 million and $300 million.

At least two major hurdles of the project have already been cleared: right-of-way and environmental clearance.

"The right-of-way is already in place, environmental clearance has already been substantially done," Doyal said. "It's a project that lends itself very readily to construction. If the [traffic] numbers bear out that it is financially warranted, then we'll move forward with Harris County and TxDOT."

Montgomery County Commissioners Court

Alan B. Sadler Commissioners Court Building, 501 N. Thompson, Ste. 402, Conroe, 936-539-7812, www.mctx.org