Construction at Barker Cypress, Hwy. 290 intersection to begin this month

Courtesy US 290 Program

Upon completion, the Barker Cypress project will allow better traffic flow with new frontage ramps and dedicated turn lanes.

A transportation system management project to build two new ramps and re-stripe the Barker Cypress and Hwy. 290 intersection is set to begin later this month. The overpass was put to bid in July, and the $2.8 million project was awarded to Triple B Services with construction estimated to be complete by early 2013.

“We are going to start work on our project at Barker Cypress and Hwy. 290 any day now once we have our pre-construction conference,” said Karen Othon, Texas Department of Transportation public information officer. “What this [public hearing] means is a kick-off to work. We have a contractor ready to start [the project], so we just need to hold that formal meeting and we will be ready to go.”

Currently, vehicles move between outbound Hwy. 290 and the Barker Cypress overpass, which is configured with looped frontage roads on the north side of the intersection. However, growth of residential communities and nearby developments have led to an increased amount of traffic, said Mike Zientek, public involvement representative with the US 290 Program. As a result, motorists entering and exiting the highway are forced to merge with slowing vehicles entering the retail centers.

Upon completion, the new project should facilitate better traffic flow, Zientek said. One ramp will move outbound traffic from the frontage road directly to southbound Barker Cypress, while the other provides direct access from northbound Barker Cypress to outbound Hwy. 290. In addition, the re-striping of the overpass will provide a dedicated left turn lane on south Barker Cypress to access Hwy. 290.

Latest Comments

Hwy 290 @ Barker Cypress

Out of the frying pan and into the fire. Way to much traffic for it to work effectively.

Posted by Dan January 22, 2013 19:45:12
Left Turn Lane

From what I understand there will be a dedicated left turn lane there, but even still that will get backed up and interfere with the two lanes going north...which is the purpose of the road. The road doesn't end at the HEB and whatever other shops congest that space. Right now its a traffic nightmare as cars are stuck behind someone who couldn't bother to travel an additional 300 ft to a better entrance and that congestion causes people to dart to the other remaining lane, causing dangerous near accidents. The idea is to keep traffic flowing..the more left turns crossing traffic the more congestion ensues.

Posted by Michael Martin January 17, 2013 07:08:21
Left turn lane

HEB is not the only business. There are several others that would benefit from the left turn lane at the light instead of going further up BC and go through the heavily congested HEB parking lot.
Also remember there are others coming from the other side (290 inbound feeder) that may need to visit those businesses. As long as there is a dedicated left turn lane and people stop behind the line like they are supposed to, hopefully the traffic backups will be minimal.

Posted by Monique Stephens December 03, 2012 16:24:54
Hwy 290 @ Barker Cypress Left Turn Lane

I'm afraid I have to strongly disagree with allowing a left turn on the Barker Cypress Northbound. Why should traffic be backed up dangerously over the overpass because of an entrance to a HEB? Sorry, but no. Traffic flow is more important than a poor location for a HEB entrance. There are two dedicated left turn lanes nearer the store, one with a light. Traffic flow is only improved by reducing left turns from straight lanes or by creating a dedicated left turn lane.

Posted by Michael Martin November 28, 2012 07:02:27