Houston: SH 99 Grand Parkway widening

[Chris]

There are plans to expand 6.6 miles of SH 99 / Grand Parkway in western Houston to six lanes (FM 1093 to I-10).

http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/katy/news/article/TxDOT-looks-for-solution-to-Texas-99-traffic-12320399.php

In addition to adding lanes to the 6.6-mile segment between Interstate 10 and FM 1093, the project would add a center cable median barrier and modify several ramps.

While the project is intended to improve mobility, Oscar Slotboom of Westchase thinks traffic warrants more lanes. A regular user of Texas 99, he said, "Traffic has become worse than ever." He talked of backups even on Saturdays. If it backs up on Saturdays, it needs to be widened, he added.


According to the TxDOT planning map, there is an AADT of 128,819 north of Highland Knolls Drive. Even with that count including frontage roads, that's extremely high for just four freeway lanes. Maybe a simple six-laning is not sufficient in the long term.

http://www.txdot.gov/apps/statewide_mapping/StatewidePlanningMap.html

I would be interested to see traffic count data of SH 99 between I-10 and US 290, but that data is apparently not available. Houston is rapidly growing towards the SH 99 corridor, which has four lanes and no frontage roads. It probably won't be long before it needs expansion.

[Bobby5280]

There is enough ROW within the median area to add 2 lanes in each direction between FM-1093 and I-10. If they're going to go to all the trouble of expanding the road, why not get both lanes added from the start? They could even put down the concrete for the expansion and initially stripe it with 3 lanes in each direction, leaving a fairly wide inner shoulder.

[TXtoNJ]

^That's pretty much what I'd expect them to do.

MaxConcrete, your further thoughts?

[MaxConcrete]

That section of the Grand Parkway is heavily congested at peak hours, and (as I was quoted) I have even experienced backups on Saturdays.

I attended the meeting and submitted a comment that it should be widened to 4x4. The schematic cross section on the materials distributed at the meeting show the inner shoulder being 12 feet wide, which suggests it is designed for future widening to 4x4. (The cross sections on the online schematics do not specifically show the shoulder width but suggest 12 feet based on the overall pavement width.)

But I don't expect the design to be changed to 4x4 if the project moves forward soon. It the project is delayed for several years, then they may revisit the capacity needs if traffic worsens (which is probably not an "if", but rather a "when").

[nolia_boi504]

Are they still planning for a 2022 start date? They need to start NOW in my opinion...

Nexus 5X

[MaxConcrete]

Are they still planning for a 2022 start date? They need to start NOW in my opinion...

The document distributed at the meeting says construction is expected to begin in late 2022. A public hearing is slated for late 2018.

The document says the estimated construction cost is $118 million, which seems high for the five mile length. Eighteen feet of concrete is being added to each side.

They need to get the project "shovel ready" so it can be advanced if the money becomes available sooner.

[Bobby5280]

Given the inflation rate on construction costs in the US the $118 million figure for 2022 dollars could end up being on the low side.

[nolia_boi504]

 Highway 99 Expansion to happen 4 Years Earlier than expected

The expansion of Highway 99 through the Katy area will happen years earlier than expected according to Fort Bend County Commissioner Andy Meyers. Meyers says he was able to kick-start the project four-years earlier than proposed by negotiating with the Texas Department of Transportation.


https://www.coveringkaty.com/mobility/highway-expansion-to-happen-years-earlier-than-expected/article_379b3c70-c3fe-11e9-87e0-5f87a24f26e5.html 

[MaxConcrete]

The Fort Bend County Toll Road Authority recently awarded a contract for the construction of 3 direct connectors between the Westpark Tollway and SH 99 Grand parkway. The three connectors to be built are on the north side of the interchange: EB-NB, WB-NB and SB-WB. The SB-EB connector already exists.

This project is separate from the widening of SH 99 between the Westpark Tollway and Interstate 10, which is scheduled to proceed in 2022.

https://www.fbctra.com/projects/

Budget: $53.8 million

Est. Completion: 2024

Status: Construction contract has been awarded and construction is expected to begin before the end of 2021.

This information was last updated on September 29, 2021.

[Stephane Dumas]

Not directly linked to TX-99 widening, Google streetwview show the forest piers, beams and girders in construction at TX-249.
https://www.google.com/maps/@30.0516757,-95.6143904,3a,90y,218.76h,92.03t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sHzPi6dQXuID5XbVh_a9IvQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

[TheBox]

Not directly linked to the widening either

but here in MapBox has the remaining portion of the SH 99/Grand Parkway section (rather than being cut off of old and outdated satallite):
https://api.mapbox.com/styles/v1/mapbox/satellite-streets-v11.html?title=true&access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoibWFwYm94IiwiYSI6ImNpejY4M29iazA2Z2gycXA4N2pmbDZmangifQ.-g_vE53SD2WrJ6tFX7QHmA#9.64/29.9725/-94.9706

https://api.mapbox.com/styles/v1/mapbox/satellite-streets-v11.html?title=true&access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoibWFwYm94IiwiYSI6ImNpejY4M29iazA2Z2gycXA4N2pmbDZmangifQ.-g_vE53SD2WrJ6tFX7QHmA#13.49/29.81156/-94.86852

https://api.mapbox.com/styles/v1/mapbox/satellite-streets-v11.html?title=true&access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoibWFwYm94IiwiYSI6ImNpejY4M29iazA2Z2gycXA4N2pmbDZmangifQ.-g_vE53SD2WrJ6tFX7QHmA#13.59/29.72533/-94.92896


also SH 146 freeway/overpasses:
https://api.mapbox.com/styles/v1/mapbox/satellite-streets-v11.html?title=true&access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoibWFwYm94IiwiYSI6ImNpejY4M29iazA2Z2gycXA4N2pmbDZmangifQ.-g_vE53SD2WrJ6tFX7QHmA#12.47/29.555/-95.02109

[TheBox]

Also, a closer look

SH 99/Grand Parkway @ US-90:
https://www.google.com/maps/@30.0044657,-94.9434413,3a,75y,54.83h,86.11t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sQ6yiC69Cdw9JVXYDI5vVYg!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DQ6yiC69Cdw9JVXYDI5vVYg%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D68.848%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192?authuser=1
https://www.google.com/maps/@30.0145335,-94.9307662,3a,75y,230.39h,83.91t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sNJJksezxuxK4KfgsUb7vkg!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DNJJksezxuxK4KfgsUb7vkg%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D304.6033%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192?authuser=1

SH 99/Grand Parkway @ SH 146:
https://www.google.com/maps/@29.8677439,-94.8931353,3a,75y,23.02h,75.64t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sSrwQsDwxT6cHt1OlFQADLw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?authuser=1

SH 99/Grand Parkway @ IH-10:
https://www.google.com/maps/@29.8253178,-94.8568958,3a,75y,266.78h,84.28t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sY2Kn_fVXoBXFMxUF77laFQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?authuser=1
https://www.google.com/maps/@29.8234753,-94.8758787,3a,15y,83.37h,88.28t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sUCOdcllZClelkSWEtSC_IA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?authuser=1
https://www.google.com/maps/@29.8166019,-94.8616271,3a,15y,342.69h,88.02t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sHjw3m7FDXuXVKGjC5AWTLg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?authuser=1
https://www.google.com/maps/@29.8239764,-94.8665925,3a,75y,119.1h,79.49t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1stsR7rvm0A9dHAs_FZ6jIsg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?authuser=1

SH 99/Grand Parkway @ Baytown area:
https://www.google.com/maps/@29.8029082,-94.8678467,3a,75y,20.28h,80.84t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sGuLXk00ZuFwBfkWFPGUl_Q!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DGuLXk00ZuFwBfkWFPGUl_Q%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D289.01016%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192?authuser=1
https://www.google.com/maps/@29.8040308,-94.8681648,3a,75y,208.04h,83.35t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s7jmTJlF0_E5XSjs8Qzhl-g!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3D7jmTJlF0_E5XSjs8Qzhl-g%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D280.53275%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192?authuser=1
https://www.google.com/maps/@29.7311734,-94.8770763,3a,75y,43.12h,83.74t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sj5GomOu-HtSsTD_y9fc7zg!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3Dj5GomOu-HtSsTD_y9fc7zg%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D157.19954%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192?authuser=1
https://www.google.com/maps/@29.7331798,-94.876146,3a,75y,210.9h,83.67t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sX9tT_ajC5rkUB1G8elxmdw!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DX9tT_ajC5rkUB1G8elxmdw%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D113.03552%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192?authuser=1
https://www.google.com/maps/@29.7202657,-94.9342198,3a,75y,69.36h,87.4t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sAtK90DZGWsWUraAe4MsGJQ!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DAtK90DZGWsWUraAe4MsGJQ%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D307.64926%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192?authuser=1
https://www.google.com/maps/@29.7276903,-94.9142444,3a,75y,259.75h,81.28t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sX_fbzQSJGsT-AL5eb-9cAQ!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DX_fbzQSJGsT-AL5eb-9cAQ%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D167.27115%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192?authuser=1
https://www.google.com/maps/@29.7198219,-94.9461934,3a,75y,265.55h,91.97t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sIP_DF8ScUmK5utZkvd0bTg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?authuser=1
https://www.google.com/maps/@29.7207307,-94.9612616,3a,75y,84.47h,87.9t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sFMicLNoWBskwcnu_Py5w0g!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DFMicLNoWBskwcnu_Py5w0g%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D278.16232%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192?authuser=1
https://www.google.com/maps/@29.7139991,-94.9812327,3a,75y,55.54h,87.28t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s60BVY1uYk6DvR9khNmUG4A!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?authuser=1

SH 146 Freeway extension:
https://www.google.com/maps/@29.5848681,-95.0292621,3a,75y,205.26h,86.47t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sVRqfNp2TEIjrVcOxWcK3kA!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DVRqfNp2TEIjrVcOxWcK3kA%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D144.99644%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192?authuser=1
https://www.google.com/maps/@29.5579894,-95.0247504,3a,75y,175.98h,90.21t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sbUvVm3L2zdSQUkiosvxXLw!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DbUvVm3L2zdSQUkiosvxXLw%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D169.68153%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192?authuser=1
https://www.google.com/maps/@29.5280044,-95.0122121,3a,15y,331.11h,88.95t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sMaEev6yKZ2kZIyCg_6taLQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?authuser=1

[CoolAngrybirdsrio4]

I was wondering if TX 99 will be extended along TX 146 Business then continue onto TX 146 until a certain point.

[Thegeet]

When can we expect SH 99 to extend SE of I-69?

[TheBox]

When can we expect SH 99 to extend SE of I-69?

Do you mean southwest of I-69/US-59?

[thisdj78]

When can we expect SH 99 to extend SE of I-69?

Do you mean southwest of I-69/US-59?

He meant SE of I-69 from Sugarland to I-45.

[TheBox]

When can we expect SH 99 to extend SE of I-69?

Do you mean southwest of I-69/US-59?

He meant SE of I-69 from Sugarland to I-45.

just as i thought

[yakra]

SE of I-69 on the NE side of Houston, "Construction is anticipated to last through spring 2022" on Segments H and I-1.

SE of I-60 on the SW side of Houston:
Segment A "is currently not considered a viable project."
Segment B: "Construction has not been scheduled yet."
Segment C has its Est. Complete Date listed on the Project Tracker as TBD. Although this page says "Completion Date: 2016".

[Stephane Dumas]

Not directly related to TX-99 widening but GSV have uploaded views of the first direct ramps at the TX-99/TX-249 interchange.
https://goo.gl/maps/2jpXepjoW8WWz5w4A
https://goo.gl/maps/73wdFr6AsNHJrN6h6