SH-105 Expansion between SH 249 (Aggie Expressway) and SH 6 in Navasota

[TheBox]

This caught my eye

"Highway 6 and 105.

TxDOT's Bryan District is developing plans to widen SH 105 from SH 6 to SH 249 in Grimes County, Texas. SH 105 serves as a vital local and regional roadway connector. Traffic volumes along this segment have increased since the opening of SH 249 leading to increased congestion"

https://www.txdot.gov/projects/projects-studies/bryan/sh105-widening.html

"The project is currently planned to begin construction in 2029." (It has since been delayed to 2031)


"A buddy at TXDOT said that it's going to be similar to the flyover in Hempstead. It will be both directions."
https://texags.com/forums/35/topics/3511882/replies/69125207

[Bobby5280]

This project looks like a really good start, provided if TX DOT is able to gain all the ROW they want/need. The ROW footprint would provide enough space for an Interstate quality upgrade of the main lanes and flanking frontage roads. TX-249 may only be 2-lanes where it meets TX-105, but the road certainly is not going to stay in that configuration. I would be surprised if the second set of lanes wasn't added within the next 10 years.

The TX-105 corridor is already a pretty important regional corridor for the Northern exhurbs of the Houston metro. Most of the segment between Navasota and Montgomery could be upgraded into a freeway without too much trouble. From Montgomery and farther East to Conroe the existing highway is pretty covered up with development.

[MaxConcrete]

Public meeting report:

The new design (schematic) is a substantial improvement compared to the previous iteration.

• The new design is a full freeway. (Previous iteration was a four-lane divided with space for future frontage roads.)
• Wider right-of-way. Previous version was 300 feet, now it is mostly over 400 feet with the narrowest section 358 feet.
• Most of the length has frontage roads
• The presentation says construction could start in 2031

I think the progress on the proposed SpaceX Terafab will be influential for this project. If Terafab proceeds, this project will proceed sooner rather than later.

[Bobby5280]

The new design still leaves a property driveway connection to the TX-105 main lanes intact immediately West of the TX-105/TX-249 interchange. However, it looks like there will be enough ROW to add at least one frontage road on the North side of the main lanes to cut off that driveway.

The highway in that location will have to be modified when TX-249 is expanded from its current Super 2 configuration into a divided 4-lane toll road. A full Y interchange would probably be in order, particularly if the TX-105 freeway is extended farther East towards/to Montgomery.

Regarding the SpaceX Terafab, it looks like the proposed/preferred site is East of College Station by the Gibbons Creek Reservoir. It's the former site of a demolished power plant. Currently there isn't a good, direct highway path to the site from Navasota area and the TX-6/TX-105 interchange. The TX-30 corridor is just South of the reservoir. If construction on the Terafab proceeds that could make the TX-30 corridor a far more ideal location for I-14 (rather than that bullshit detour up to Madisonville). The College Station area would be poised to gain some population from the development.

[CoreySamson]

I've always thought that the TX 105 corridor would be more useful to upgrade for long distance traffic in Texas than I-14. This would be a good start.

[achilles765]

I've always thought that the TX 105 corridor would be more useful to upgrade for long distance traffic in Texas than I-14. This would be a good start.

I whole heartedly agree with you on this. Would make MUCH more sense.

[MaxConcrete]

I've always thought that the TX 105 corridor would be more useful to upgrade for long distance traffic in Texas than I-14. This would be a good start.

I whole heartedly agree with you on this. Would make MUCH more sense.

I think the I-14 planners should consider connecting I-14 to Conroe instead of Huntsville. I think a Conroe connection will serve regional transportation needs much better, especially if Terafab is built at Gibbons Creek Reservoir.

Realistically, it is unlikely I-14 will ever be extended east of I-45. Any eastward extension will have to contend with the Sam Houston National Forest and Lake Livingston. East of I-69, I don't think I-14 will ever be justifiable in terms of traffic and cost (at least not in this century).

[sprjus4]

Honestly, just route I-14 down SH-105 and SH-249 (Or SH-6 and US-290) into Houston. Upgrading SH-105 east of SH-249 seems like a prohibitively costly endeavor, especially if it's just going to end at I-45.

[Bobby5280]

I think it's more realistic to route I-14 from College Station to Huntsville along/near the TX-30 corridor rather than diverting it down to the TX-105 corridor.

While it's possible to upgrade TX-105 into a freeway between Navasota and Montgomery (for now) the rest of TX-105 between Montgomery and Conroe looks to me like a lost cause. Too much development has gone up alongside the highway. Property lines are on a somewhat decent set-back, but not far enough back to be able to fit frontage roads, slip ramps, drainage, etc. A freeway through there would probably have to be on elevated structures, which probably wouldn't be popular to anyone living near the highway.