ConstructionManagerMAS Posted October 18, 2005 Share Posted October 18, 2005 I read something in a recent East 1488 Community Association newsletter about Montgomery County possibly starting to acquire the right-of-way to extend Woodlands Parkway westfrom FM2978 to FM 149. I'd never heard of this before and it appears to be a county thing, I suppose to provide more access to that area west of The Woodlands and south of FM1488. Has anyone else heard anything similar? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kjb434 Posted October 19, 2005 Share Posted October 19, 2005 Yes,It'll happen. It part of the Montgomery County Pass Through Programs. In the next 10-15 years, you'll be seeing many road improvement projects throughout the south portion of the county. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRP Posted October 29, 2005 Share Posted October 29, 2005 (edited) I read something in a recent East 1488 Community Association newsletter about Montgomery County possibly starting to acquire the right-of-way to extend Woodlands Parkway westfrom FM2978 to FM 149. I'd never heard of this before and it appears to be a county thing, I suppose to provide more access to that area west of The Woodlands and south of FM1488. Has anyone else heard anything similar?This is correct, according to County Commissioner Craig Doyle at the Magnolia Chamber luncheon. Ultimately it would go all the way to FM 249. Also, he announced that Kuykendahl would finally be punched through at FM 1488, that a toll fly over would be put at I-45 and FM 242 (no toll booth), Fishcreek would be made to four lanes and bypass Honea Egypt Rd. from FM 1488 to FM 2854 just before Lake Conroe. There was also mention of Research Forest eventually be put through to FM 1488 as well. The first two projects were to be the 5 lane expansion of FM 1488, construction beginning Jan. 2006 and Fishcreek, construction beginning as early as Dec. 2005. The bonds were approved back in the Sept. election to complete all of the work mentioned, the ball is rolling now! Edited October 29, 2005 by TRP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
editor Posted October 29, 2005 Share Posted October 29, 2005 Wow. That's a lot of information. Is there a map showing all the changes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ConstructionManagerMAS Posted November 3, 2005 Author Share Posted November 3, 2005 The TXDOT website still shows that the 1488 widening will be let (tentatively) in June, 2006. Wonder if that will be moved up? The 1488 Project Number is 0523-10-015. You can search for it on the TXDOT website. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KatieDidIt Posted November 3, 2005 Share Posted November 3, 2005 The TXDOT website still shows that the 1488 widening will be let (tentatively) in June, 2006. Wonder if that will be moved up? The 1488 Project Number is 0523-10-015. You can search for it on the TXDOT website.Well they already need to widen the intersection of 1488 and 2978, like RIGHT now. Its getting really hairy there. ALso, I certainly hope they widen 2978 near the Parkway. That Walmart is going to cause major traffic jams if it stays the way it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRP Posted November 10, 2005 Share Posted November 10, 2005 The TXDOT website still shows that the 1488 widening will be let (tentatively) in June, 2006. Wonder if that will be moved up? The 1488 Project Number is 0523-10-015. You can search for it on the TXDOT website.You could be right, you know how politicians can be. When I heard him speak he was extremely optimistic that construction would begin late 2005 or early 2006. Can't come soon enough. The retailers aren't waiting so it's gonna be a mess for awhile. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ConstructionManagerMAS Posted November 17, 2005 Author Share Posted November 17, 2005 I see that TXDOT has now revised the first phase of 1488 widening to be from SH242 to FM2978 only. It originally went all the way to I-45. The bid let date is still listed as next June. Wonder if there are some issues that we don't know about east of 242? I know that is red-cockaded woodpecker habitat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ConstructionManagerMAS Posted December 12, 2005 Author Share Posted December 12, 2005 From the TXDOT website, it looks like the FM1488 widening let date has been moved up to March, 2006. Looks like the fun is about to begin.I just posted a reply to myself. That's pretty sad... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daisy3600 Posted January 3, 2006 Share Posted January 3, 2006 Does anyone know where I can see a map of the proposed expansion of Woodlands Parkway to FM 149? We live just off of FM 2978 and, if it's going where I think it's going, the expansion will be just behind us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pineda Posted January 3, 2006 Share Posted January 3, 2006 Hi Daisy & Welcome to the forum!You might try this:www.h-gac.commouse over the word Departmentsclick on Transportationclick on Regional Transportation Planthis pulls up the RTP viewertype in Street NameUnder Project Type All Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KatieDidIt Posted January 3, 2006 Share Posted January 3, 2006 (edited) Hi Daisy & Welcome to the forum!You might try this:www.h-gac.commouse over the word Departmentsclick on Transportationclick on Regional Transportation Planthis pulls up the RTP viewertype in Street NameUnder Project Type AllGreat site! I find it hard to believe that they aren't going to widen 2978 next the the Walmart for several years. Its going to be a nightmare keeping it a two lane country road. Edited January 3, 2006 by KatieDidIt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ConstructionManagerMAS Posted April 18, 2006 Author Share Posted April 18, 2006 Just checked the TXDOT website again. The FM1488 widening date has been slipping. Now I see that the bid date was slipped off the end of the FY2006 letting schedule (so the bid date is no sooner than fall of this year). So much for politicians' promises. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KatieDidIt Posted April 19, 2006 Share Posted April 19, 2006 Just checked the TXDOT website again. The FM1488 widening date has been slipping. Now I see that the bid date was slipped off the end of the FY2006 letting schedule (so the bid date is no sooner than fall of this year). So much for politicians' promises. Wow. That's a same because during rush hour and weekends, 1488 is completely back up at the 2978 intersection. 2978 turning into Woodlands Parkway is backed up to Tomball as far as the eye can see. Well, at least we can use that big old honking Walmart parking lot to cut through. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRP Posted April 21, 2006 Share Posted April 21, 2006 Just checked the TXDOT website again. The FM1488 widening date has been slipping. Now I see that the bid date was slipped off the end of the FY2006 letting schedule (so the bid date is no sooner than fall of this year). So much for politicians' promises.I just ran into County Commissioner Craig Doyle at a restaurant on FM 1488 and he said the clearing of the right of ways (signage, lights, etc.) is set to begin May/June. He said it had been pushed back one month but the May/June timeframe was looking solid. We'll see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ConstructionManagerMAS Posted January 15, 2007 Author Share Posted January 15, 2007 Well, ROW clearing on the first part of the FM1488 widening is done. Let's see if they can get the telephone and cable lines relocated before they just build the highway around them.As a note, it appears from the commissioner's court meeting minutes that there is a design contract already underway for the widening of 2978 from 1488 south to the Harris County line. Didn't see anything about construction funding though (looks to be another pass-through tolling project however). Some of the new Woodlands homes being built north of Woodlands Parkway already back up very close to 2978, so those buyers will have a nice four lane highway right behind their back fence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bubba Posted January 15, 2007 Share Posted January 15, 2007 Great when that 2978 widening starts! On another note: I just posted a reply to myself. That's pretty sad... Don't feel that way ConstManager. For some of us it takes a while to post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KatieDidIt Posted January 16, 2007 Share Posted January 16, 2007 Coming back from the 1488 Home Depot during the mid-morning 2978 was a slow,solid and steady stream of cars. What a big change from 2 years ago. They really do need to get on the ball and make it widder, or at least put in a north bound, right turn lane onto the Parkway. Its unfortunate that The WDC couldn't make a really nice, mini-market street feel along that portion of 2978. Heck, they don't even have a nice 'Woodlands" entrance sign at the intersection. I mean, it is an entrance into the Woodlands now. The general feeling in the area is that it has been forgotten. I see it going the way of 1960 with the type of things being built. Once again, its too bad that the WDC couldn't create something wonderful. Instead they have CHOSEN to leave it behind to development of the zoneless ordinary.PS- Another question. Why are there above ground power poles all throughout the West Woodlands, along the Parkway and into the southern neighborhoods. Isn't one of the big selling points to have buried power lines? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woody_hawkeye Posted January 17, 2007 Share Posted January 17, 2007 PS- Another question. Why are there above ground power poles all throughout the West Woodlands, along the Parkway and into the southern neighborhoods. Isn't one of the big selling points to have buried power lines?Katy, a good question! The Woodlands has had one really big confrontation with Entergy on power lines in Indian Springs. The Woodlands took it to court and won. Centergy argued that it costs too much to bury the lines. We fought back with safety issues and proved that it really does not cost more in the long run. The lines in that part of The Woodlands had no constituents to fight the issue as well as I recall. It was all about timing. To residences, yes the staretgy is to put them underground but the main lines? I am afriad that utility companies have unbelievable power granted by the Texas Legislature to get their way. It takes a lot of money to challenge them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricco67 Posted January 17, 2007 Share Posted January 17, 2007 Look at it this way:You now will be able to see squirrels use them as highway ramps and won't find as many on the roadways. It'll give your neighborhood that "vintage" look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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