The Texas Department of Transportation is proposing a new $209 million Grand Parkway widening project through the Spring area in Harris and Montgomery counties.
The project would be funded by toll revenue and include connectors to I-45, according to information from TxDOT. Public feedback on the project is being collected through Oct. 9.
A virtual public meeting and an in-person open house were held on Sept. 22 and Sept. 24, respectively, and information is available on the TxDOT website regarding how to provide feedback.
The Grand Parkway, initially conceptualized in the 1960s, is 180 miles long and opened its first segment in 1994, according to TxDOT. It passes through seven counties. Section G, which runs between I-45 and Hwy. 59, opened in 2016.
The plan
The proposed widening project would be funded by toll revenue and would consist of:
6.73 miles
$209M estimated cost
The project is needed to maintain a stable traffic flow and vehicle speed on the roadway, according to TxDOT.
Under the terms and conditions of the toll road operation, the Grand Parkway must maintain traffic flow and vehicle speed to a level with minimal delays. On a scale of A-F, with 'A' meaning no traffic delays and 'F' being the heaviest congestion level, a level ‘C’ is needed at minimum, according to the presentation.
“Due to ongoing growth and development in the area, State Highway 99 is unable to maintain a Level C; therefore, the roadway must be widened,” according to the presentation.
What's being done
The section of the Grand Parkway being considered for widening currently consists of:
Two 12-foot-wide main lanes in each direction
A depressed grassy median
Two-lane, 12-foot-wide east- and westbound intermittent frontage roads
Right-of-way of 400-420 feet
No additional right-of-way is needed for the project, and no new frontage roads would be needed, according to the presentation.
The proposal calls for:
Three 12-foot-wide main lanes in each direction
10-foot-wide paved shoulders both inside and outside the lanes, replacing the grassy median
Concrete traffic barriers
Right-of-way of 400-420 feet
Direct connectors are also being proposed for southbound I-45 to eastbound Grand Parkway and westbound Grand Parkway to northbound I-45.
They would consist of a 14-foot-wide lane, an 8-foot-wide outside shoulder and a 4-foot-wide inside shoulder with no additional right-of-way needed, according to the presentation.
No new stormwater detention ponds are being proposed, according to the presentation. Existing drainage, such as storm sewers, ditches and detention ponds, is being analyzed for the increased capacity requirements, and minor changes could be made as needed, according to TxDOT. In addition, no new noise barriers are being proposed for the project.
In addition to toll revenues, the project could receive federal funds and will undergo an environmental impact analysis, according to TxDOT.
What to expect
The timeline is:
2025: Data collected and needs evaluated
2026: Environmental studies begin
Mid-2026: Public meetings held
Early 2027: Environmental decisions and detailed design
Late 2027: Construction to begin
The project will take five years to complete, and written comments are being solicited through Oct. 9 via mail, email and in-person dropoff.
