Pearland poised for Hughes Ranch Road project

Pearland City Council on Nov. 26 will consider awarding a construction bid for a proposed $16.6 million project to widen Hughes Ranch Road between Cullen Boulevard and Smith Ranch Road. Pearland City Council on Nov. 26 will consider awarding a construction bid for a proposed $16.6 million project to widen Hughes Ranch Road between Cullen Boulevard and Smith Ranch Road. Photo: Harris Shiffman / Fotolia Photo: Harris Shiffman / Fotolia Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Pearland poised for Hughes Ranch Road project 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Pearland City Council on Nov. 26 will consider awarding a construction bid for a proposed $16.6 million project to widen Hughes Ranch Road between Cullen Boulevard and Smith Ranch Road.

If the contract is awarded, work would begin in January to expand the roadway from two lanes to four and replace ditches with curbs and gutters. The project aims to improve traffic safety and boost access to adjacent neighborhoods and schools.

Triple B Construction Services is the proposed contractor on the 720-day project, said Robert Upton, Pearland’s director of engineering and capital projects.

Once completed, the two-mile stretch of road will have a raised median and noise barriers along bordering subdivisions, as well as new landscaping and streetlights. The widened roadway is expected to improve safety in the area and aid access to nearby neighborhoods and schools.

Eighty percent of the budget will be funded by the Houston-Galveston Area Council’s Transportation Improvement Program, with Pearland picking up the remaining 20 percent of costs.

In preparation for the work, the city had to complete a year-long utilities project to move a water main out of the way, Upton said.

“Utilities always need to be dealt with before we widen roads,” he said.

Additional road construction projects are planned, including widening Smith Ranch Road from two lanes to four between FM 518 to Hughes Ranch Road, complete with raised medians, storm sewers, sidewalks and landscaping and an adjacent path.

“We’re in design right now and trying to get that one done around the same time as Hughes Ranch Road,” Upton said.

Like the Hughes Ranch Road project, proposed work to Smith Ranch Road, the Houston-Galveston Area Council TIP would fund 80 percent of costs and Pearland would cover the rest.