Project to add lanes on Research Forest starts

A worker clears trees and shrubs as part of a construction project to create two additional lanes on Research Forest Drive near the intersection of Branch Crossing Drive and Research Forest Drive May 18 in Conroe. less A worker clears trees and shrubs as part of a construction project to create two additional lanes on Research Forest Drive near the intersection of Branch Crossing Drive and Research Forest Drive May 18 in ... more Photo: Jason Fochtman, Staff Photographer Photo: Jason Fochtman, Staff Photographer Image 1 of / 5 Caption Close Project to add lanes on Research Forest starts 1 / 5 Back to Gallery

Precinct 2 Commissioner Charlie Riley is moving forward with a bond project to add two lanes to Research Forest Drive from Egypt Lane to Alden Bridge Drive on the west side of The Woodlands.

According to Riley, who represents that area of The Woodlands, the construction contract recently was awarded to Magnolia-based Cooley Construction for $1.8 million. The project originally was estimated to cost about $8 million, but an improved economy since Riley compiled his list in early 2015 has helped reduce construction costs significantly.

The project is being funded through the $280 million road bond referendum approved by voters in November 2015. To date, the county has sold about $141 million in bonds of the $280 million referendum.

The Research Forest roadwork is expected to be completed in less than a year, Riley said.

"Right now, they are clearing what little still needs to be cleared," Riley said.

The project, Riley said, will eliminate several intersections where traffic is merged to one lane after the traffic light.

"It will make it a whole lot safer," he said.

The November 2015 referendum was the third bond package in four years to go before voters. The bond is divided between the four commissioners, with Precinct 3 receiving $84 million, Precinct 4 receiving $68 million and Precincts 1 and 2 each receiving $64 million.

Voters last approved a road bond in Montgomery County in 2005. In 2011, voters rejected a $200 million bond with many saying the county simply didn't provide enough information about where the money would be spent.

In February 2015, commissioners unanimously agreed to put the $350 million bond on the May 2015 ballot, allocating $80 million to Precincts 1 and 2, $105 million to Precinct 3 and $85 million to Precinct 4. That referendum became increasingly contentious due to the inclusion of the extension of Woodlands Parkway from FM 2978 to Texas 249 because of strong opposition from residents, mostly in The Woodlands, and voters rejected the bond.

In an effort to ensure the success of the revised $280 million bond in November 2015, commissioners removed several controversial projects, including the Woodlands Parkway extension and the widening of Robinson Road.

According to Riley, his list of 13 construction projects and six rehab projects will increase mobility and safety for drivers in the Magnolia area. Topping his list as the largest project is the widening of Fish Creek Thoroughfare. Riley said he has broken that project into two sections, the first from Honea Egypt to the Lake Creek Bridge and the second from the Woodforest Development to FM 2854. The total cost of both sections, about 5 miles long, is approximately $17 million. The plan is to widen the road from two lanes to four lanes along both sections.

"Bleyl (Engineering) is finishing up with those plans and we should be able to advertise for construction this month," Riley said in February about the first section. As for the second section, he said there are a couple of parcels left to acquire.

Those projects do not include the bridge over Lake Creek or the overpass at Fish Creek Thoroughfare and FM 2854. Riley said he plans to submit both bridge-widening projects to the Houston Galveston Area Council for federal funding, likely an 80/20 split.

"We feel pretty confident we will get both of those," he said.

HGAC is a regional council of governments operating under Texas laws and governed by a board comprised of 36 elected officials from the 13-county region. The association helps provide the research, resources and customer service needed to make procuring goods and services more easy and efficient.

Another project moving forward is the realignment of Nichols Sawmill Road. For the realignment of Nichols Sawmill Road, Riley said the right of way has been cleared and the environmental work started.

"It will be summer before we actually put that out to bid," he said.