Montgomery County Commissioner Craig Doyal of Precinct 2 provided an update on road projects in the western Woodlands at the Alden Bridge Village Association meeting Tuesday.
Among the roads targeted for current or future improvement are FM 1488, Texas 242, Woodlands Parkway, Kuykendahl Road and Research Forest Drive.
“We are trying to stay ahead of the curve with road projects,” Doyal said.
The widening of FM 1488 between FM 2978 and Texas 242 is complete and “has changed the whole complexion of that part of the area,” Doyal said.
Two more segments are under way on the east and west ends of that road.
FM 1488 is currently being widened to four lanes, with a continuous center turn lane, between Texas 242 and Interstate 45. That segment is expected to be complete by May.
A six mile segment between FM 2978 and Mostyn Road has gone to bid and is expected to be widened to four lanes, with a continuous center turn lane. That segment is expected to open in June 2011.
“That will ease of lot of congestion in the southwest part of the county,” Doyal said.
A public hearing on the Texas 242 flyover, which will provide direct connections between Texas 242 and Interstate 45, is expected to be held in March, pending the outcome of an environmental impact study.
The current ramps to Interstate 45 are expected to be moved further south in April as part of that projects. Construction on the flyover could begin as early as September or October, Doyal said.
The Texas 242 flyover and FM 1488 are being funding through a new pass through toll program, where the county pays for the roads upfront and collects funding from the state based on the number of vehicles that use the new thoroughfare. The program allowed the roads to be built quicker and cheaper, Doyal said.
The county is also awaiting environmental approval to proceed with extending Kuykendahl Road in The Woodlands to FM 1488, creating another north-south route between Harris and Montgomery counties.
While all of the land has been purchased and funding is ready from the county, The Texas Department of Transportation, The Woodlands Road Utility District and The Woodlands Development Co., the project has been stalled waiting for environmental approval because of an overload of projects from federal stimulus funds.
Doyal said he has no time frame for the completion of the project.
Another project on the drawing boards is the extension of Research Forest Drive to Egypt Lane off FM 2978, which is expected to be funded by the Westwood Improvement District. The district has to acquire land from The Woodlands Development Co. for the project and is lining up financing and engineers. Doyal expects that road could be built within two years.
Doyal said he has received mixed reviews from resident on the extension of the road. While some want access to shopping on FM 2978, others do not want traffic and crime coming accessing The Woodlands.
Doyal said he believes Kuykendahl Road and Research Forest Drive will provide better access out of the community, rather than into it. He said FM 1488 provides faster access to The Woodlands Mall and Town Center than Research Forest, and it will be complete before the Research Forest project is started.
I’m getting mixed calls from residents,” Doyal said. “Some want access to Target. Some say, if you build it, I’m going to kill you.”
Finally, Doyal is acquiring land to eventually extend Woodlands Parkway to Texas 249, a project he does not expect to see come to fruition during his tenure in office. He believes that acquiring land now, when 50 percent is open farmland, is the cheapest and easiest it will ever be for that project.
Steve Leakey, vice president of the Alden Bridge Village Association, said that it is the practice of the association to bring in key leaders annually to provide an update o services to the community.
Board members expressed concerns about two roads in the area, including the interchange at Interstate 45 and FM 1488, where curbs are broken and near misses frequently occur because of obscured views for entering and exiting traffic. Doyal said he will check with the Texas Department of Transportation to see if they have any plans for that overpass.
In addition, board members questioned the placement of a traffic light at Walmart on Woodlands Parkway near its western terminus rather than at Terramont Drive, a busy intersection. Doyal said the project was located in Precinct 3.
Road Projects for the Western Woodlands
Commissioner Craig Doyal of Precinct 2 recently outlined current and future road projects in the western Woodlands during the Alden Bridge Village Association meeting. Following are the planned projects.
FM 1488
• Segment between FM 2978 and Texas 242 is complete
• Segment between Texas 242 and Interstate 45 is expected to be complete by May
• Segment from FM 2978 to Mostyn Road is expected to be complete by June 2011
Texas 242 Flyover at Interstate 45
• Public hearing expected in March, pending environmental approval
• Current I-45 entrance and exit ramps to be relocated in April
• Construction to begin in September or October 2010
Kuykendahl Road extension to FM 1488
• Funding and land currently available
• Awaiting environmental approval
• No projected construction date
Research Forest extension to Egypt Lane off FM 2978
• Project to be funded by Westwood Improvement District
• Land needs to be acquired from The Woodlands Development Co.
• No projected construction date
Woodlands Parkway extension to Texas 249
• County has begun acquiring land
• No projected construction date
Source: Commissioner Craig Doyal of Precinct 2