Montgomery County commissioners gave its support for almost $800 million in recommended road projects from the Texas Department of Transportation for funding through the Houston Galveston Area Council.
The projects are for the council’s 2023 Transportation Improvement Program of transportation projects approved for federal funding over the next four years.
County Judge Mark Keough said the projects are not yet funded but none require matching funds from the county.
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The list includes 16 short-, medium- and long-term projects ranging from the restriping of Interstate 45 to a $200 million project to widen Interstate 45 to 12 lanes from Texas 242 to Loop 336 in Conroe.
The list also includes the new $70 million four-lane Magnolia Bypass from FM 1488 to Texas 249 and the $67 million widening of FM 1488 to six lanes from FM 2978 to Interstate 45.
Commissioners will revisit the list of projects to prioritize them at a later date.
Precinct 3 Commissioner James Noack suggested Keough work with TxDOT to move the FM 1488 project up the priority list.
“That needs to happen sooner rather than later,” Noack said of the project to widen FM 1488 to six lanes. “It’s a road Commissioner (Charlie) Riley and I share and there is great interest in getting that project done.”
Riley said FM 1488 is a concern regarding safety and mobility.
“As bad as FM 1488 is, it needs it and it needs it today,” Riley said. “We need to try everything we can to push that up.”
Noack asked Keough to have the $150 million project to realign ramps on Interstate 45 at the Hardy Toll Road, Rayford Sawdust Road and Springwoods Village Parkway added to the list as well.
Projects selected for the program are priorities for the region in all surface transportation areas including transit, roadway and highways, bicycle and pedestrian, preventative maintenance, rehabilitation and transportation operations.
HGAC’s Transportation Policy Council oversees the development of and adopts the projects for the program.
New projects are added to the program on a periodic basis and the council asks for new projects for the program approximately every two years.
