BY VANESSA HOLT, ANNA LOTZ & LIZZY SPANGLER
FM 1488 crashes from Mostyn Drive to I-45
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Zooming in
Fatal
Suspected serious injury
Suspected minor injury Noninjury/unknown
Possible injury crashes
Construction of the raised median follows two other projects to improve FM 1488 in Magnolia that are ongoing. TxDOT’s project to widen FM 1488 to four lanes with a continuous left turn lane from west of FM 149 to FM 1774 is anticipated to wrap up in the first quarter of 2025, and a similar widening project from FM 1774 to the Waller County line near Joseph Road just west of Magnolia is anticipated to wrap up in the second quarter of 2024, according to the December media update. Construction of the raised median is anticipated to wrap up in the fourth quarter of 2025, according to the December media update from TxDOT. Eissler said WMPID has set aside funding to landscape and beautify the median within the district’s boundaries. TxDOT is funding the installation of the median and the first year of maintenance, and will turn over maintenance of the median to WMPID after the first year, he said. During construction of the median, drivers can expect one lane in either direction to close between 8:30 a.m.- 3:30 p.m., Flores said. “We have so many business owners that love to work with one another and support one another in the community. We have a very special community that way,” Barton said. “And I would hope that that would continue through what is likely going to be a somewhat stressful period for some business owners.”
The medians are set to vary in width from 1 feet to 14 feet, and the project will be completed from west to east, Flores said. Barton said businesses are concerned about limited access with a raised median. “There’s always a concern that someone will not stop because they can’t get across the street easily, or they would have to do a U-turn in order to get to that business,” she said. “We hope that TxDOT will work diligently with the business owners along that corridor to ensure that cut-throughs are safe and appropriate and do not negatively hinder access to businesses along that stretch.” As the project seeks to improve safety, TxDOT data shows total crashes within the project limits have increased from 170 crashes in 2013 to 326 crashes in 2023 as of Nov. 20. “It just is a constant nightmare—people dart out in, you know, across traffic from anywhere in between intersections,” said Jeanine Weber, a resident of Woodland Landings off FM 1488.
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 Total
170 191 271 288 286 335 312 239 333 339 326
2013
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
2020 2021 2022 2023*
SOURCE: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION/COMMUNITY IMPACT *AS OF NOV. 20
What they’re saying
“I just went through this process on [Hwy.] 105, and it was a mess. … I do believe it’s going to be a hassle. I do believe people are going to drive up the road and go somewhere else, so I’m not a fan of [the median].” MIKE KELTON, OWNER OF TREEHOUSE CAFE ON FM 1488 AND HUNGER CRUSH CAFE ON HWY. 105
“You may have to go down and then make a turn and come back around, but ... I would easily trade inconvenience for safety; that is not even an issue.” JEANINE WEBER, RESIDENT OF WOODLAND LANDINGS
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