TRANSPORTATION UPDATES
COMPILED BY SHAWN ARRAJJ, VANESSA HOLT & HANNAH NORTON
REGIONAL PROJECTS TxDOT proposes $100B road construction plan Gov. Greg Abbott and the Texas Department of Transportation proposed on Feb. 23 a $100 billion plan to fund transportation projects across the state for the next 10 years. The Unied Transportation Program aims to maintain roadways and improve safety and congestion across Texas. According to a news release, the 2024 UTP will provide a record amount of funding for construction across Texas. The 2023 plan, which was approved in August, made $85 million available. A 2024 draft is expected in June. “Safety is a top priority for TxDOT, and these funding levels reect that,” TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams said in the release. I-45 expansion project will proceed after entities reach agreement A project to widen I-45 between Belt- way 8 and downtown Houston took a major step forward March 7 when the Federal Highway Administration announced it had reached a voluntary agreement with the Texas Depart- ment of Transportation. The FHWA has been investigating the project, known ocially as the North Houston Highway Improvement Proj- ect, since 2021 for alleged violations of the Civil Rights Act. The project has raised concerns that it unfairly harms communities of color. TxDOT has been given permission to move forward with the design and construction of the project. With an estimated cost of $9 billion, the NHHIP includes adding four managed express lanes on I-45 from downtown Houston to Beltway 8 North. Construction is expected for 2027.
1314 northbound and southbound left-turn lane and rebuilt the trac signal on Kuykendahl Road at Creekside Green Drive. The project will improve driver visibility and make it consistent with other area intersections, according to Precinct 3. Timeline: August 2022-April 2023 Cost: $800,000 Funding sources: Harris County Precinct 3, Harris County Engineering UPCOMING PROJECTS 3 David Memorial Drive extension Right-of-way clearing to extend David Memorial Drive to Hwy. 242 took place in mid-March, when materials were hauled o-site, according to engineer John Bleyl. Bidding for construction on the expansion project began in March and construction is expected to begin in June, Bleyl said. The project will take about 400 days once work commences. Timeline: June-TBD Cost: $6 million Funding sources: city of Shenandoah, city of Conroe, Montgomery County
1488
45
242
VISION PARK BLVD.
3
DAVID MEMORIAL DR.
1
W
4
K
C
I N
E K S I D
2
N
ONGOING PROJECTS
as the westbound Research Forest to northbound Grogans Mill. As of April 11, the westbound lane was completed, and work on the eastbound lane was delayed pending relocation of utility lines accord- ing to engineer John Bleyl. The project is being managed by Montgomery County Precinct 2. Timeline: January-August Cost: $240,000 Funding sources: Montgomery County Precinct 2, Texas Department of Trans- portation COMPLETED PROJECTS 2 Kuykendahl Road and Creekside Green Drive intersection improvement Harris County Precinct 3 modied the
4 Robinson Road realignment Oak Ridge North approved easement agreements with Entergy Texas in January to begin moving utilities to make way for the project to align Robinson Road across Hanna Road. As of April 11, Oak Ridge North ocials reported the process was still underway. Delays with Entergy’s re- location plans have set the project back to begin in August, according to city ocials. Timeline: August-late 2024 Cost: $6 million Funding sources: city of Oak Ridge North, Montgomery County Precinct 3
PHOTOS BY VANESSA HOLT¡COMMUNITY IMPACT
1 Grogans Mill Road and Research Forest Drive turn lane construction Turn lane improvements at Research Forest Drive and Grogans Mill Road will extend the westbound acceleration lane from southbound Grogans Mill to westbound Research Forest as well
ALL INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE WAS UPDATED AS OF APRIL 12. NEWS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE OR OTHER LOCAL TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS? EMAIL US AT WDLNEWSCOMMUNITYIMPACT.COM.
336
45
CALL FOR DETAILS!
Immediate Availability in Independent Living It’s not like home. It is home. TM
www.WoodhavenVillage.com ID# 106820 (936) 703-5333 2275 Riverway Drive Conroe, TX 77304
NEW ACTIVE ADULT 55+ LIVING COMING SPRING 2024!
17
THE WOODLANDS EDITION • APRIL 2023
Powered by FlippingBook