The team of Zachry-Odebrecht was the winner in the four-team competition to build the 38-mile section of the Grand Parkway toll road from US 290 to US 59/I-69 north. The winner's score was substantially better than the second place bid.
Announced Thursday, the winning bid was $1.1 billion.
The project will be fully open by March 2015.
More at these links
Presentation of selection process.
http://www.txdot.gov/about_us/commission/2012_meetings/documents/minute_orders/sep27/4afinal.pdf
http://www.dot.state.tx.us/news/046-2012.htm
http://www.dot.state.tx.us/project_information/projects/houston/sh99_grand_parkway/developer_proposals.htm
Quote from: MaxConcrete on September 28, 2012, 11:08:23 PM
The team of Zachry-Odebrecht was the winner in the four-team competition to build the 38-mile section of the Grand Parkway toll road from US 290 to US 59/I-69 north. The winner's score was substantially better than the second place bid.
Announced Thursday, the winning bid was $1.1 billion.
The project will be fully open by March 2015.
More at these links
Presentation of selection process.
http://www.txdot.gov/about_us/commission/2012_meetings/documents/minute_orders/sep27/4afinal.pdf
http://www.dot.state.tx.us/news/046-2012.htm
http://www.dot.state.tx.us/project_information/projects/houston/sh99_grand_parkway/developer_proposals.htm
Wow. Can't believe they're actually getting this done. Then again, I never thought they'd be building the ExxonMobil ops headquarters there, either.
Quote from: TXtoNJ on September 29, 2012, 11:02:13 PM
Quote from: MaxConcrete on September 28, 2012, 11:08:23 PM
The team of Zachry-Odebrecht was the winner in the four-team competition to build the 38-mile section of the Grand Parkway toll road from US 290 to US 59/I-69 north. The winner's score was substantially better than the second place bid.
Announced Thursday, the winning bid was $1.1 billion.
The project will be fully open by March 2015.
More at these links
Presentation of selection process.
http://www.txdot.gov/about_us/commission/2012_meetings/documents/minute_orders/sep27/4afinal.pdf
http://www.dot.state.tx.us/news/046-2012.htm
http://www.dot.state.tx.us/project_information/projects/houston/sh99_grand_parkway/developer_proposals.htm
Wow. Can't believe they're actually getting this done. Then again, I never thought they'd be building the ExxonMobil ops headquarters there, either.
:confused: :confused: :confused:
Quote from: txstateends on September 29, 2012, 11:38:14 PM
Quote from: TXtoNJ on September 29, 2012, 11:02:13 PM
Quote from: MaxConcrete on September 28, 2012, 11:08:23 PM
The team of Zachry-Odebrecht was the winner in the four-team competition to build the 38-mile section of the Grand Parkway toll road from US 290 to US 59/I-69 north. The winner's score was substantially better than the second place bid.
Announced Thursday, the winning bid was $1.1 billion.
The project will be fully open by March 2015.
More at these links
Presentation of selection process.
http://www.txdot.gov/about_us/commission/2012_meetings/documents/minute_orders/sep27/4afinal.pdf
http://www.dot.state.tx.us/news/046-2012.htm
http://www.dot.state.tx.us/project_information/projects/houston/sh99_grand_parkway/developer_proposals.htm
Wow. Can't believe they're actually getting this done. Then again, I never thought they'd be building the ExxonMobil ops headquarters there, either.
:confused: :confused: :confused:
ExxonMobil is building their operations headquarters in the north part of Spring, just south of the Woodlands off of I-45. It will be just north of where the Grand Parkway intersects I-45. Once the location of the headquarters was set, the Grand Parkway went from being mired in a slog of community opposition to being put on the extreme fast-track.
The Grand Parkway section G might be built faster than F2 due to the construction of Exxon-Mobil, I know a lot of sub divisions in that area are going from weed filled wooded forest to open lands with dirt cutouts of the roads. I would not be shocked if by 2017 if the whole project isn't complete.
This June 11 article (http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/tomball/news/grand-parkway-construction-to-begin-this-summer/article_240a9512-da7c-5dd1-84eb-8dcc9eca91a5.html) provides an update on the construction schedule this summer:
Quote
Officials expect to move forward with key portions of the Grand Parkway this summer, announced Linda Merritt, a representative with Zachry-Odebrecht Parkway Builders, to Cy-Fair Houston Chamber members Thursday.
"Construction has not officially begun yet ... We got approval for phase 1, which is notice to proceed, on March 22," said Linda Merritt, a representative with Zachry-Odebrecht Parkway Builders. "Then there is phase 2 — that is the absolute final agreement of all contract details and approval of plans that are in place."
Before the project moves forward, the company needs that final notice and one more environmental permit for section G, which runs from I-45 to Highway 59, said Merritt.
In March, Zachry-Odebrecht won a $1.1 billion contract to build a 38-mile segment of the grand Parkway from US 290 to US 59. With a construction schedule of a maximum of 845 days, the project is set to finish in 2015. ....
construction should be visible by early-summer.
Projects will start at key interchanges with a focus on US 290, I-45 and US 59, said Merritt. The company will work with the Harris County Toll Road Authority on the Hardy Toll Road and SH 249 interchanges. Currently, the company has been testing soil samples through geotechnical drilling to make sure the soil will support the structures.
"Construction will begin simultaneously, meaning we're not starting at one end and working our way to another," said Merritt. "As we prioritize construction at these interchanges, the construction will move in toward each other."
The entire project will involve 120 bridges, 10 million cubic yards of dirt, 1 million cubic yards of concrete 250,000 linear feet drill shaft foundation, said Merritt. Zachary Odebrecht will work closely with Webber Engineering to coordinate construction details and traffic management planning at SH 290 where Segment E and F1 met. Construction on SH 290 is scheduled to begin mid-to-late July.
The interchange at SH 99 and SH 290 will require more than 600 calendar days to construct.
As of this afternoon, I saw construction signs already up along I-45 between Louetta Road and the Hardy Toll Road.
Clearing has begun near by to start the ramp building. Plus by 290, clearing has begun on the Northside for the ramps there as well. This project seems to be a full go. Interesting part is going to be around SH249. Highway ramps going near a half built highway. And looking that they are going I-45 and US290 to the center. That would leave right to this area. They might be forced to continue work to connect all these highways together.
Quote from: Perfxion on June 28, 2013, 10:13:36 PM
Clearing has begun near by to start the ramp building.
At I-45?
Yes sorry, where Dan was talking about.
This June 28 TV video report (http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=9155940) reports on construction progress and includes a map showing overall progress on the Grand Parkway:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F47Ohy88.jpg&hash=a52e05185333d97561424c5ea133b093b18cb393)
Quote
The construction underway on the Katy Freeway at Highway 99 is significant. By the end of the year, it'll provide a faster connection from Highway 290 to I-10 for those who live well past Beltway 8 ....
As the work on the northwest side of the parkway is wrapping up, work on three new sections is just getting underway.
"Construction will be taking place simultaneously on each one of the segments with a dedicated team," said Linda Merritt with Zachry Odebrecht Parkway Builders.
It's a two-and-half year, $1.1 billion project that runs from Highway 290 to 249, 249 to I-45 and I-45 to Highway 59, adding 38 miles to the parkway's north side.
Here is a video of the proposed Grand Parkway interchange with I-45:
http://youtu.be/oT8pTzJcrLQ
:confused:
Due to a funding issue, only two flyover ramps are being built at this time.
http://impactnews.com/houston-metro/the-woodlands/officials-push-for-construction-of-grand-parkway,-i-45-direc/
:angry:
I find this unacceptable, considering the fact that ExxonMobil's future operations headquarters close-by.
Quote from: FreewayDan on September 21, 2013, 11:50:26 PM
I find this unacceptable, considering the fact that ExxonMobil's future operations headquarters close-by.
I find corporate welfare unacceptable.
Quote from: NE2 on September 21, 2013, 11:56:59 PM
Quote from: FreewayDan on September 21, 2013, 11:50:26 PM
I find this unacceptable, considering the fact that ExxonMobil's future operations headquarters close-by.
I find corporate welfare unacceptable.
What I find
more unacceptable is how TxDot builds out these interchanges. For example, the I-45 North Freeway interchange with Beltway 8. Prior to the Sam Houston Tollway opening in 1990, there were two flyover ramps: NB 45 to EB Beltway 8 and WB Beltway 8 to SB 45. Then in 1998, the next ramps to open were SB 45 to WB Beltway 8 and EB Beltway 8 to NB I-45. The remaining flyover ramps were finished by 2003.
If Exxon-Mobil wants to make sure the highway has full direct connections so everyone can get to its compound. It wouldn't even take 1% of its quarterly net profits to fund this project. Why should someone in western, Texas have to fund pork in Houston?
Quote from: FreewayDan on September 21, 2013, 11:50:26 PM
Here is a video of the proposed Grand Parkway interchange with I-45:
http://youtu.be/oT8pTzJcrLQ
:confused:
Due to a funding issue, only two flyover ramps are being built at this time.
http://impactnews.com/houston-metro/the-woodlands/officials-push-for-construction-of-grand-parkway,-i-45-direc/
:angry:
I find this unacceptable, considering the fact that ExxonMobil's future operations headquarters close-by.
Sounds acceptable to me, since this mostly will be used for traffic to/from DFW attempting to escape downtown Houston. No real need for the full direct connectors yet until the entire mainlane is complete.
Quote from: thisdj78 on June 28, 2013, 10:30:02 PM
Quote from: Perfxion on June 28, 2013, 10:13:36 PM
Clearing has begun near by to start the ramp building.
At I-45?
Quote from: Perfxion on June 29, 2013, 08:59:26 AM
Yes sorry, where Dan was talking about.
Quote from: NE2 on September 21, 2013, 11:56:59 PM
Quote from: FreewayDan on September 21, 2013, 11:50:26 PM
I find this unacceptable, considering the fact that ExxonMobil's future operations headquarters close-by.
I find corporate welfare unacceptable.
A lot has happened in the past two years. This August 19 article (http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/spring/news/article/Grand-Parkway-segments-on-track-for-fall-6452917.php) includes photographs of the I-45/ Grand Parkway interchange construction and reports that Segments F1, F2, and G should be open to traffic in the fourth quarter of 2015, possibly as soon as October:
Quote
Three sections of the Grand Parkway in north Houston are on track to be completed by the end of this year.
Members of the Greater Tomball Area Chamber of Commerce Mobility and Transportation Committee received an update on the progress of the Grand Parkway segments connecting U.S. 290 to Interstate 69 ....
Ibette Cavasos, public information officer for Zachry-Odebrecht Parkway Builders, which is building segments F1, F2 and G between U.S. 290 in Cypress to I-69 north of Kingwood, said the three segments are on track to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2015 ....
The Grand Parkway was a significant driver in luring Exxon Mobil to relocate their headquarters from Fairfax, Va., and move 20,000 employees and their families to a new headquarters off Interstate 45 and the Grand Parkway.
The new headquarters opened in March ....
Segment F1: A 12.0 mile, four-lane, controlled access toll road with intermittent frontage roads from U.S. 290 to Texas 249 through Harris County. Currently under construction and projected to be completed by October 2015.
Segment F2: A 12.1-mile, four-lane, controlled access toll road with intermittent frontage roads from Texas 249 to I-45 north through Harris County. Under construction and projected completion by October 2015.
Segment G: A 13.7-mile,four-lane,controlled access toll road with intermittent frontage roads from I-45 north to I-69 through Harris and Montgomery counties. Under construction and projected to be completed October 2015.
BTW, although ExxonMobil will have a sizeable presence in The Woodlands, the actual company HQ will still be in Irving (unless something happens to change the minds of the suits, depending on the size and scope of the complex in The Woodlands, it might be a suitable HQ should they decide to do so later on).
Quote from: txstateends on August 23, 2015, 11:20:43 AM
BTW, although ExxonMobil will have a sizeable presence in The Woodlands, the actual company HQ will still be in Irving (unless something happens to change the minds of the suits, depending on the size and scope of the complex in The Woodlands, it might be a suitable HQ should they decide to do so later on).
Technically, yes - but the operations HQ will be far bigger than the corporate HQ in Irving. They've stated in the past that they want them separated, as they're two entirely different beasts, and don't want one side leaking over into the other.
When might we see a completed Grand Parkway? 10 years? 20 years? 30?
Quote from: The Ghostbuster on August 25, 2015, 02:47:52 PM
When might we see a completed Grand Parkway? 10 years? 20 years? 30?
Depends on how you define "completed". If you're talking about every segment, probably never - I don't see Segment A ever getting completed as currently proposed, as it would be disruptive to surrounding communities (i.e. Tilman Fertitta doesn't want construction screwing with Kemah cash). It'll probably be replaced by an extension of the NASA Parkway, and possibly toll lanes for Red Bluff Rd and Fairmount Pkwy.
As for the fully funded projects, probably by 2030 or so.
Photos taken today at and near US 59/I-69 north of Houston
(https://1968d90e831cd27d2017897e0c81e9a12852eb10.googledrive.com/host/0B4gwdXQk1LyieHZHSTBqd0VJSnc/aaroads/20150906_g_pkwy-0033-ADJ-800.jpg)
Looking north along US 59
(https://1968d90e831cd27d2017897e0c81e9a12852eb10.googledrive.com/host/0B4gwdXQk1LyieHZHSTBqd0VJSnc/aaroads/20150906_g_pkwy-0039-1200.jpg)
Looking west from US 59.
Somewhat larger image https://1968d90e831cd27d2017897e0c81e9a12852eb10.googledrive.com/host/0B4gwdXQk1LyieHZHSTBqd0VJSnc/aaroads/20150906_g_pkwy-0039-1200.jpg (https://1968d90e831cd27d2017897e0c81e9a12852eb10.googledrive.com/host/0B4gwdXQk1LyieHZHSTBqd0VJSnc/aaroads/20150906_g_pkwy-0039-1200.jpg)
(https://1968d90e831cd27d2017897e0c81e9a12852eb10.googledrive.com/host/0B4gwdXQk1LyieHZHSTBqd0VJSnc/aaroads/20150906_g_pkwy-0029-ADJ-800.jpg)
Looking northwest. Only two connection ramps are being built in the current construction project.
(https://1968d90e831cd27d2017897e0c81e9a12852eb10.googledrive.com/host/0B4gwdXQk1LyieHZHSTBqd0VJSnc/aaroads/20150906_g_pkwy-0018-1200.jpg)
Somewhat larger image https://1968d90e831cd27d2017897e0c81e9a12852eb10.googledrive.com/host/0B4gwdXQk1LyieHZHSTBqd0VJSnc/aaroads/20150906_g_pkwy-0018-1200.jpg (https://1968d90e831cd27d2017897e0c81e9a12852eb10.googledrive.com/host/0B4gwdXQk1LyieHZHSTBqd0VJSnc/aaroads/20150906_g_pkwy-0018-1200.jpg)
Looking east at FM 1314. The median is surprisingly narrow. There is space to add only two more lanes. I'm assuming there will be a concrete or wire rope barrier with such a narrow median. It is disappointing so see low design standards on a new project, but on these toll projects the only thing that matters is the money so these compromises get made to stay within budget.
At least there is a median. There are plenty of toll roads and even stretches of non-tolled Interstate highways where the two opposing roadways are practically joined together and separated only by a guard rail, concrete Jersey barrier or cable barrier. Most of I-44 in Oklahoma was built like this. Same for much of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. About half of the new Chisholm Trail Parkway going South of Fort Worth has both directions of travel butted together on what looks like only half of the actual roadway.
To me, low standards would be slapping down some asphalt and calling it a day. The Grand Parkway segments pictured look like there is plenty of ROW to add more lanes to the outside if needed.
The southern portion of CTP is only half of the ultimate roadway. It was built in an interim 2+1 configuration because toll revenues aren't expected to be high enough to pay for a full 4 lane freeway for another decade or two. All the ROW is there for new southbound lanes to be built in the future, and if you look at it in Google Maps you'll see that the southbound exit/entrance ramps are longer than northbound, so that when the new lanes are built, they won't need to rebuild the ramps in order to maintain adequate acceleration/deceleration distance.
I posted photos taken today
http://houstonfreeways.com/photos/grand-parkway-october-2015 (http://houstonfreeways.com/photos/grand-parkway-october-2015)
It looks like the westmost section, from US 290 to SH 249, could be ready for opening soon. From SH 249 eastward to US 59 there is still a lot of work to be done, so I'm thinking those sections will open in spring and summer of 2016.
As I drive on 2920 every day, I really have a hard time seeing this done in 6 to 8 weeks, still a dirt pile.
Quote from: MaxConcrete on October 17, 2015, 09:55:48 PM
I posted photos taken today
http://houstonfreeways.com/photos/grand-parkway-october-2015 (http://houstonfreeways.com/photos/grand-parkway-october-2015)
Great photos. I don't think there's any interchange in Europe that looks like this:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.oscarmail.net%2Fhoustonfreeways%2Fimages%2Fgrand-parkway-october-2015%2F20151017-gpkwy-0005-290wb.jpg&hash=047874048556757147fc5bfc0f94b942e0800b70)
Quote from: MaxConcrete on October 17, 2015, 09:55:48 PM
It looks like the westmost section, from US 290 to SH 249, could be ready for opening soon. From SH 249 eastward to US 59 there is still a lot of work to be done, so I'm thinking those sections will open in spring and summer of 2016.
Quote from: Perfxion on October 18, 2015, 07:43:08 AM
As I drive on 2920 every day, I really have a hard time seeing this done in 6 to 8 weeks, still a dirt pile.
This October 20 article (http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/cyfair/news/article/Grand-Parkway-segments-on-track-for-fall-6579494.php) reports the builder as saying that it is "currently on target" to complete sections F1, F2 and G from US 290 to I-69 in the fourth quarter of 2015:
Quote
Three sections of the Grand Parkway in north Houston are on track to be completed by the end of this year.
Members of the Greater Tomball Area Chamber of Commerce Mobility and Transportation Committee received an update on the progress of the Grand Parkway segments connecting U.S. 290 to Interstate 69.
"There are a lot of people who are interested in the course of the Grand Parkway," said Bruce Hillegeist, president of the Greater Tomball Area Chamber of Commerce.
Ibette Cavasos, public information officer for Zachry-Odebrecht Parkway Builders, which is building segments F1, F2 and G between U.S. 290 in Cypress to I-69 north of Kingwood, said the three segments are on track to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2015.
"It is currently on target," she said ....
construction on segments F1, F2 and G began in June 2013 with a target completion before the end of the year.
"How often do you get seven counties working together...to implement a project like this," said Eddie Sanchez, TxDOT engineer for the Houston District.
The Grand Parkway was a significant driver in luring Exxon Mobil to relocate its headquarters from Fairfax, Virginia, and move 20,000 employees and their families to a new headquarters off I-45 and the Grand Parkway.
The new headquarters opened in March.
It should be interesting to see if they can actually complete the three sections by December 31.
Google Earth has new imagery of most of the Greater Houston area, dated August 1st, 2015. It also shows Grand Parkway under construction. It is not yet available in Google Maps. You can also see the finished Exxon campus, it's huge.
At SH 249 / Tomball Parkway
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FUFBdkcX.jpg&hash=18dc4e7ac32d6c34f63eeb41c3e45d37003d33f5)
At I-45
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FiO5aQ40.jpg&hash=57c83722473548b73668d4a93ee20ed84b93b486)
At I-69
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FJN3yOLv.jpg&hash=612095be77497f00ebca12c5788112608f2a929c)
Thanks for the update! The latest I get on Google Earth Pro is May 31, 2015 :(
Nexus 5
Some signage for the Grand Parkway has been installed at southbound I-45 in Spring:
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5732/22804849317_e21d7cb9b0_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/AKbPcc)Southbound IH 45 at future exit for westbound Grand Parkway (110515) (https://flic.kr/p/AKbPcc) by Daniel (https://www.flickr.com/photos/22306412@N07/), on Flickr
Drove around the F-2 corridor yesterday. I'd be very surprised if it's ready to open before February at the earliest.
Does the Grand Parkway have exit numbers? If not, I think it should.
Quote from: The Ghostbuster on November 23, 2015, 04:01:06 PM
Does the Grand Parkway have exit numbers? If not, I think it should.
AFAIK, no. None of the BGS pix I've seen have any. I know none of the toll roads in north TX have numbered exits.
This has probably been covered before, but I don't think anything lower than a US highway has numbered exits in Texas, and US routes are haphazard at best (US 75, US 82 in Sherman, and US 54 in El Paso have them, but US 83/84 in Abilene, US 82 in Lubbock, and US 87/287 in Amarillo don't).
What a shame. I prefer my exits numbered.
It is now official: The Grand Parkway sections F and G will not open until the first quarter of 2016. Of course, those of us who viewed the progress recently already knew that.
http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/transportation/article/Grand-Parkway-progress-takes-a-hit-won-t-open-6659176.php?cmpid=gsa-chron-result (http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/transportation/article/Grand-Parkway-progress-takes-a-hit-won-t-open-6659176.php?cmpid=gsa-chron-result)
Quote
Grand Parkway won't open until 2016
Heavy rains earlier this year blamed for construction delays on freeway
By Dug Begley
November 26, 2015 Updated: November 27, 2015 8:34am
Builders of the next major stretch of the enormous third freeway loop, from U.S. 290 to U.S. 59 northwest of Houston, confirmed that heavy rains earlier this year washed away any hope of the new segments opening in 2015.
"We had 60-to-90 days where we pumped water out," said Joe Wilson, construction manager for Zachry-Odebrecht Parkway Builders, the joint venture constructing the tollway.
For now, the four lanes and entrance ramps are the domain only of passing dump trucks and pickups headed to one of the dozens of job sites spread across the 38 miles of construction zone.
Despite "a great September and really strong October," Wilson said crews couldn't meet the end of the year goal.
Officials are now focused on opening in the first quarter of 2016, though project spokeswoman Ibette Cavazos said details of which segments will open when are still being worked out.
For safety and to expedite work, however, it's likely that the miles of finished road will wait for the final touches before motorists begin using the tollway. Wilson said the $1.1 billion job has reached a point where weather is unlikely to affect it, and crews can make quick work of tasks like painting lane markers and hanging signs.
Grand Parkway won't open until 2016
Edit: Full article:
http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/transportation/article/Grand-Parkway-progress-takes-a-hit-won-t-open-6659176.php?t=c4f02cec26438d9cbb&cmpid=fb-premium
No surprise there from MaxConcretes previous posts indicating the segments won't be completed this year. I wonder why all articles prior to this one kept quoting a 4Q 2015 date.
Nexus 5
The Houston Chronicle now reports that F1-2 (US 290 to I-45) may open this month after all: http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/spring/news/article/Grand-Parkway-segments-ready-to-open-6673350.php
Quote
Officials working on the Grand Parkway project indicated that segments F1 and F2, which link U.S. 290 to Interstate 45 in Spring, will make the completion deadline of Dec. 31 but segment G, which connects south of The Woodlands at I-45 and continues northeast of Kingwood to link with Interstate 69, is running behind schedule.
Quote from: dfwmapper on November 26, 2015, 12:17:06 AM
This has probably been covered before, but I don't think anything lower than a US highway has numbered exits in Texas, and US routes are haphazard at best (US 75, US 82 in Sherman, and US 54 in El Paso have them, but US 83/84 in Abilene, US 82 in Lubbock, and US 87/287 in Amarillo don't).
TX 130 around Austin has exit numbers. (https://www.google.com/maps/@30.2421625,-97.6118619,3a,75y,32.16h,82.93t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s61cO4bfw-1_XHDg9qoVV5Q!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo2.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3D61cO4bfw-1_XHDg9qoVV5Q%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D199.44124%26pitch%3D0!7i13312!8i6656)
Quote from: Chris on December 04, 2015, 02:11:47 PM
The Houston Chronicle now reports that F1-2 (US 290 to I-45) may open this month after all: http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/spring/news/article/Grand-Parkway-segments-ready-to-open-6673350.php
Quote
Officials working on the Grand Parkway project indicated that segments F1 and F2, which link U.S. 290 to Interstate 45 in Spring, will make the completion deadline of Dec. 31 but segment G, which connects south of The Woodlands at I-45 and continues northeast of Kingwood to link with Interstate 69, is running behind schedule.
Now TxDOT says the Grand Parkway from US 290 to I-69/US 59 North will be finished in the first quarter of 2016:
http://communityimpact.com/2015/12/28/grand-parkway-segments-f-1-f-2-and-g-delayed-until-first-quarter-2016/
I just found a site called NearMap (link below), which has a Google Maps Satellite view-like interface. The images are much newer than Google and update more frequently. Most of the Houston metro area has imagery dated mid-November 2015, so you can see a lot of the recent progress, especially for Grand Pkwy. As an added bonus, it lets you zoom in MUCH closer than Google Maps for more detailed view of the construction.
The downside is that you have to register with a corporate email address (free) -- I used my work email. Also, the free accounts have a 200mb per month viewing limit. I burned through that within half hour of browsing around. I'll have to wait until Feb 1 now :(. Regardless, pretty cool stuff!
Houston isn't listed as a "big city" so it only gets updates 3x per year (far better than Google). However, Dallas for some reason is listed as a big city, so they get updates 6x per year (see the Capture Plan PDF in the drop down for the various dated imagery at the top center of the map).
I hope Google uses this data and updates more frequently with this high res imagery.
http://maps.us.nearmap.com/
Grand Parkway opening nears
"The tollway segments between U.S. 290 and Interstate 45 are expected to open to drivers in the first week of February..."
http://www.chron.com/news/transportation/article/Grand-Parkway-opening-nears-6753896.php#photo-9017193
Segment F (US 290 to I-45) is planned to open to traffic on February 8, and is tolled from Feb. 15th.
http://abc13.com/1178690/
Photos taken Saturday 1/30. Construction crews were fully deployed all over section F-2, working to get it ready for opening (and also enjoying the beautiful weather).
(https://1968d90e831cd27d2017897e0c81e9a12852eb10.googledrive.com/host/0B4gwdXQk1LyieHZHSTBqd0VJSnc/aaroads/20160130-0004.jpg)
Looking east at FM 2920. Crews were installing lane striping at this location. A wire rope median barrier is being used.
https://1968d90e831cd27d2017897e0c81e9a12852eb10.googledrive.com/host/0B4gwdXQk1LyieHZHSTBqd0VJSnc/aaroads/20160130-0004.jpg (https://1968d90e831cd27d2017897e0c81e9a12852eb10.googledrive.com/host/0B4gwdXQk1LyieHZHSTBqd0VJSnc/aaroads/20160130-0004.jpg)
(https://1968d90e831cd27d2017897e0c81e9a12852eb10.googledrive.com/host/0B4gwdXQk1LyieHZHSTBqd0VJSnc/aaroads/20160130-0011.jpg)
Looking east with the Hardy Toll road interchange ahead. This is section G, which will not be ready for opening on Feb. 8. There's still a lot of work to do, such as installing guardrails and the wire rope barrier. I'm thinking that all effort is focused on section F-2 right now, and they'll resume on section G when section F-2 is ready.
https://1968d90e831cd27d2017897e0c81e9a12852eb10.googledrive.com/host/0B4gwdXQk1LyieHZHSTBqd0VJSnc/aaroads/20160130-0011.jpg (https://1968d90e831cd27d2017897e0c81e9a12852eb10.googledrive.com/host/0B4gwdXQk1LyieHZHSTBqd0VJSnc/aaroads/20160130-0011.jpg)
(https://1968d90e831cd27d2017897e0c81e9a12852eb10.googledrive.com/host/0B4gwdXQk1LyieHZHSTBqd0VJSnc/aaroads/20160130-0018.jpg)
Interchange at the Hardy Toll Road. The Hardy Toll Road was completely closed this weekend for work at the interchange.
https://1968d90e831cd27d2017897e0c81e9a12852eb10.googledrive.com/host/0B4gwdXQk1LyieHZHSTBqd0VJSnc/aaroads/20160130-0018.jpg (https://1968d90e831cd27d2017897e0c81e9a12852eb10.googledrive.com/host/0B4gwdXQk1LyieHZHSTBqd0VJSnc/aaroads/20160130-0018.jpg)
(https://1968d90e831cd27d2017897e0c81e9a12852eb10.googledrive.com/host/0B4gwdXQk1LyieHZHSTBqd0VJSnc/aaroads/20160130-0025.jpg)
Looking east along the Grand Parkway
https://1968d90e831cd27d2017897e0c81e9a12852eb10.googledrive.com/host/0B4gwdXQk1LyieHZHSTBqd0VJSnc/aaroads/20160130-0025.jpg (https://1968d90e831cd27d2017897e0c81e9a12852eb10.googledrive.com/host/0B4gwdXQk1LyieHZHSTBqd0VJSnc/aaroads/20160130-0025.jpg)
Do you think four lanes is sufficient in the short term? Parts of Beltway 8 were widened to eight lanes within 15 years of opening.
Quote from: Chris on February 01, 2016, 09:22:44 AM
Do you think four lanes is sufficient in the short term? Parts of Beltway 8 were widened to eight lanes within 15 years of opening.
In the Cypress-Spring corridor, probably not, but it's a bit of a political miracle (thanks, XOM) that this even got built in the first place.
Quote from: Chris on January 29, 2016, 02:50:39 PM
Segment F (US 290 to I-45) is planned to open to traffic on February 8, and is tolled from Feb. 15th.
http://abc13.com/1178690/
TxDOT has now opened the Grand Parkway from US 290 to I-45 North; it was originally going to be on Monday (2/8), then was moved to 5 a.m. on Saturday (2/6), but it is now opened.
http://abc13.com/traffic/new-section-of-grand-parkway-opens-early/1189244/
Here are some shots of new signs along I-45 North:
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1639/24477021419_e8cfc485c6.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/DhX8GF)Northbound IH 45 - Right Lane Only for Hardy Toll Road and Spring Crossing Drive (011216) (https://flic.kr/p/DhX8GF) by Daniel (https://www.flickr.com/photos/22306412@N07/), on Flickr
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1512/24549144550_c50b5a999a.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/DpjMoW)Northbound IH 45 at exit for Hardy Toll Road and Spring Crossing Drive (011216) (https://flic.kr/p/DpjMoW) by Daniel (https://www.flickr.com/photos/22306412@N07/), on Flickr
Spring Crossing Drive has since been renamed Springwoods Village Parkway.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Springwoods+Village+Pkwy,+Spring,+TX/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x86473450ff9ac4e1:0x70477538453dae99?sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjJnLPwn-LKAhVV82MKHTVyDjkQ8gEIMTAD
Driving tour of the newly opened section
http://houstonfreeways.com/photos/grand-parkway-section-f (http://houstonfreeways.com/photos/grand-parkway-section-f)
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.oscarmail.net%2Fhoustonfreeways%2Fimages%2Fgrand-parkway-section-f%2F20160206-0076-1150.jpg&hash=d76d1649e00cb010475192c9d09652f9edc7f246)
That spot doesn't really look developed....is this a fast growing area, or development hasn't reached out this far yet (if it's the former, then it makes sense why they left room for extra lanes on both sides of the freeway.)?
Widening at the locations where there is just a median barrier may be more difficult depending on how much ROW was acquired initially.
Developments are in patches. But there are wide areas of emptiness. They won't need 3 lanes everywhere, yet. But they got room for it. Plus room for stubs and extra lanes for direct connecting SH249 and I-45. But currently, one can get from the Outlet malls(US290) in Cypress to the Woodlands mall(I-45) in the Woodlands in about 25 mins. Which used to be about an hour.
This is where discussion of the Grand Parkway should be, not on the I-69 in TX thread.
Segment G is still planned to open this month. A bike ride is scheduled for March 19.
http://txdot.gov/inside-txdot/media-center/local-news/houston/007-2016.html
Segment G is opening tomorrow:
http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/transportation/article/Grand-Parkway-from-I-45-to-U-S-59-opens-Tuesday-7042613.php?t=44d690034d438d9cbb&cmpid=reddit-premium
The guide signs on the new section G approaching US 59/ IH 69 do not even mention US 59. I suppose TxDOT is trying to convince everyone to start thinking of US 59/IH 69 as IH 69.
I posted driving tour photos of section G on the existing web page, you'll need to scroll way down to find the photos taken on April 3.
http://houstonfreeways.com/photos/grand-parkway-section-f (http://houstonfreeways.com/photos/grand-parkway-section-f)
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.oscarmail.net%2Fhoustonfreeways%2Fimages%2Fgrand-parkway-section-f%2F20160403-0052-1150.jpg&hash=3c85cd34058b1082da43ab40bb17a57645988ce6)
No mention of US 59.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.oscarmail.net%2Fhoustonfreeways%2Fimages%2Fgrand-parkway-section-f%2F20160403-0054-1150.jpg&hash=b8959804bdf5f7bc440a7e9f9de925bf24f4cda0)
No mention of US 59.
Great photos. They seem to have preserved space for future frontage roads.
I was looking at the segment H / I-1 schematics, they don't have frontage roads anywhere.
The US 90 interchange is planned as a partial cloverleaf (probably due to the railroad). Is this interchange type used anywhere else in Houston?
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FSj9cbwK.jpg&hash=1a323314cdbf42be227f7d6fb4a0770ef5a254ff)
Perhaps we should start a thread about segment H / I-1. According to the Grand Parkway Association, construction could start within one year.
Thanks for these photos. It looks like an interesting, albeit minimalist (by Texas standards at least) road.
Quote from: Chris on April 04, 2016, 09:38:32 AM
Great photos. They seem to have preserved space for future frontage roads.
I was looking at the segment H / I-1 schematics, they don't have frontage roads anywhere.
The US 90 interchange is planned as a partial cloverleaf (probably due to the railroad). Is this interchange type used anywhere else in Houston?
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FSj9cbwK.jpg&hash=1a323314cdbf42be227f7d6fb4a0770ef5a254ff)
Perhaps we should start a thread about segment H / I-1. According to the Grand Parkway Association, construction could start within one year.
I believe that a partial cloverleaf interchange exists at Spur10 and Alt 90 west of Rosenberg.
Quote from: MaxConcrete on April 03, 2016, 11:37:42 PM
The guide signs on the new section G approaching US 59/ IH 69 do not even mention US 59. I suppose TxDOT is trying to convince everyone to start thinking of US 59/IH 69 as IH 69.
I'm a 5 year old transplant to Houston, so I lived through the transition from US59 to IH69. Is it a concern for long time Houstonians that the US59 tags are being dropped? How is this different from the US90/IH10 concurrent segments not being tagged with the US90 badge? IH45/US75 is a similar situation as well, I believe. I guess not having a major history or sentiment for US59, I'm more inclined to accept the full transition to IH69. Personally I'd like to solely see IH69 signs all over the city.
Two videos on YouTube
This one shows the opening ceremony, with most local and state transportation officials in attendance. Elyse Lanier (wife of late Bob Lanier) is visible at the ribbon cutting.
TxDOT video, shows comments from political officials
There is severe flooding going on in the Houston area.
This is SH 99 / Grand Parkway, reportedly near FM 2920.
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CgU73DxVAAA9dNO.jpg:large)