WDL-08-2019-1

CRASH REPORT

Widen and extend Old Conroe Road to Hwy. 336

OLD CONROE ROAD THROUGH TAMINA ROAD NUMBER OF CRASHES 1

expected to go for bid in 2022

cost TBD

115

TRAFFIC COUNT WEST OF I-45

101 96 86

59 63

58 66

2017: 51,757 26,000

2010:

+99.1%

HWY. 242 THROUGHOLD CONROE ROAD

242

15 23 19 29 26 34 39 33

I-45 THROUGHHWY. 242

Restripe and widen FM 1488 from 4 to 6 lanes between FM 2978 and I-45

119

104

expected to go for bid in 2024

$5M

80 87

Widen Hwy. 242 from 4 to 6 lanes between FM 1488 and I-45

37 30 30 43 41

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

$20 million

fall 2022

SOURCE:TEXASDEPARTMENTOFTRANSPORTATION/COMMUNITY IMPACTNEWSPAPER

Linkage Study of I- from Conroe to North Houston that will produce trans- portation recommendations covering the next several decades of develop- ment along the interstate. TxDOT will accept public input related to its project planning along I- on environmental, community and economic issues along the corridor through summer . The city of Conroe is also develop- ing a north-south link from Old Conroe Road to Sgt. Ed Holcomb Boulevard South via a crossing of the West Fork San Jacinto River. City and state o- cials hope that project can bring relief to both I- and the FM corridor, much of which is covered by Conroe’s extraterritorial jurisdiction. “I think the major concern—and I’m glad that TxDOT is looking at it—is how do you manage the trac and the access in and out of those businesses while making it as safe as possible?” Hollie said of the FM corridor. ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY ANNA LOTZ

FM was completed in , and Marcel Town Center at Wood- lands Square Blvd. opened in January. Veldekens said he believes business owners have been pleased with both retail spaces, which quickly lled with restaurants, gyms, health stores, bou- tiques and oces. “We’re very happy with the activity that we’ve had there. So far, it’s been a really good response at both centers,” Veldekens said. “I think the commu- nity has embraced it, and I think our tenants are settling in well.” SHAPING REGIONAL MOBILITY As the TxDOT corridor study concludes in the coming months, the transportation agency will begin project planning and searching for funding ahead of a possible rst round of construction in the early s. So far this year, TxDOT has solicited public input on access management priorities through a community meeting and an online survey. Black said TxDOT saw turnout of more than attendees at its rst

public meeting, held in Alden Bridge in May, and it received , survey submissions online. TxDOT plans to present its latest community-guided proposals concern- ing FM and accept further input at a second public session for the corridor study, which Black said will likely take place in September. TxDOT is also planning for the future of several connected state road- ways that could relieve problem spots along the corridor and throughout The Woodlands area, including expansions to FM and Hwy. in The Wood- lands. The million FM widen- ing from two to four lanes north of Conroe-Husmith Road is under con- struction in two portions that could be completed in late and early , and the million Hwy. widening from four to six lanes between FM and I- has an estimated fall completion date. In addition to TxDOT’s FM assessment, the agency is in the midst of a Planning and Environmental

“In the past years, we have had many restaurants that have [a] sports bar theme or restaurants with bars in them. … This leads to an increase in drunk driving, which makes us focus our trac and DWI eorts on the FM corridor along with other areas of [Precinct] in south county that have drinking establishments,” Zientek said. Despite those concerns, many of the corridor’s businesses have found suc- cess with local growth. Hollie said he believes store owners in the area remain generally satised with FM ’s con- sistent stream of potential customers and the mix of recreational, residential and retail space along the road. “You’re not seeing one business or industry do well; they’re all doing very well,” Hollie said. “They seem to be very happy with their business trac and the location.” Vernon Veldekens, the founder of the Marcel Group real estate rm, had a similar outlook on the highway corridor. The rm brought two new shopping plazas to FM in the past two years: Marcel Commons at

For more information visit communityimpact.com .

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