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Hwy. 290 traffic managment projects break ground

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By Kimberly Stauffer Friday, 06 November 2009

HOUSTON — The Texas Department of Transportation has begun traffic system management projects along Hwy. 290 to widen existing pavement and add auxiliary lanes.

The improvements are part of TxDOT’s renovation of the Hwy. 290 corridor, which includes the widening of Hwy. 290, construction of the Hempstead Tollway and a proposed commuter rail. The corridor program will not break ground until 2012.

The $2.5 million project, under contract with Rozco Contracting Inc., will increase traffic capacity with widened lanes and auxiliary lanes on both the westbound and eastbound sides of West Little York and Fairbanks North Houston as well as restriping the pavement to add auxiliary lanes between Jones Road and FM 529.

Road crews will widen the westbound Senate Road frontage lanes to create a combined u-turn and left-turn lane at the intersection with Hwy. 290.

Once complete, the auxiliary lanes will help alleviate traffic congestion entering and exiting the highway and facilitate improved moment through the Senate Avenue intersection with an extra left-turn lane.

Construction crews began installing barricades and signage earlier this month to begin work on Senate Avenue. The improvements are estimated to be complete in approximately six months. Drivers should expect temporary lane reductions on the Hwy. 290 westbound frontage road while crews work on the intersection as well as shoulder and nightly eastbound and westbound highway main lane closures.

The second project series, also awarded to Rozco Contracting Inc., will begin late 2009 or early 2010. Designated u-turn and left-turn lanes will be created to allow for extra frontage road lane traffic at eastbound and westbound intersections at Gessner Road, Fairbanks-North Houston Road, Hollister Street, Antoine Drive and West 34th Street.

For information about these projects or the Hwy. 290 corridor program, contact the Hwy. 290 program office at 713-354-1532 or 713-354-1556 or visit www.my290.com.

See earlier Community Impact Story at more.impactnews.com/5608.