Harris County Precinct 4 and the Texas Department of Transportation launched a $5.3 million capital improvement project aimed at improving traffic and safety along Spring Cypress Road on March 11.

The congestion mitigation air quality project, or CMAQ, is a two-phase project with Phase 1 including three separate segments. Pamela Rocchi, the director of Harris County Precinct 4’s Capital Improvements Program, said those segments include Spring Cypress Road between Telge Road and Louetta Glen Drive at a cost of $5.3 million, Cypresswood Drive between Hickory Twig Way and FM 1960 for $6.4 million, and North Eldridge Parkway between Clay and Spring Cypress roads for $4.3 million.

Specifically along Spring Cypress, the project will upgrade 25 intersections including the installation of battery back-up systems, traffic signal cabinet upgrades, turn lane improvements and fiber interconnect system installation, which will allow for better communication between traffic signals, Rocchi said.

Additionally, the project will include the installation of four new traffic signals on Spring Cypress Road: one at Glenn Haven Estates Drive, Chaseloch Street, Stone Forest Drive/Carrot Street and Foster Road.

Rocchi said the existing traffic signal where Spring Cypress Road and Hufsmith-Kohrville Road intersect will also be rebuilt and relocated to allow for Spring Cypress Road to be widened from four to six lanes between Hwy. 249 and 800 feet east of Hufsmith-Kohrville Road. The renovated intersection will also feature new medians and channelized left turn lanes, Rocchi said.

“Precinct 4’s main goal for this project is to facilitate the movement of traffic through this heavily congested intersection in a safer and more efficient manner,” Rocchi said. “The pavement widening will provide capacity for the appropriate thru lane or turn lane movement, and channelization eliminates cross traffic conflicts providing for a safer, more efficient use of the infrastructure.”

While the relocation and rebuilding of the traffic signal at Hufsmith-Kohrville Road will take place during Phase 1 of the project, which is already under construction by contractor Third Coast Services, the actual widening of the road is included in Phase 2, which includes improvements along Hwy. 249 and FM 529, for a total cost of $3.6 million. As of late June, Phase 2, which is being managed by TxDOT, was in the bid and award phase.

Rocchi said Phase 2 will also include intersection improvements along FM 1960, Hwy. 6 and Beltway 8. Phase 1 construction is expected to wrap up by June 3, 2020, while Phase 2 construction should begin July 29. Rocchi said Phase 2 is slated for completion by January 2022.