Construction continues to hamper traffic flow

THE WOODLANDS, Texas -- June came and went, and yet TxDOT Project 091237199 targeted for completion by end of June, is just 68.87 percent complete. Project 091237199 is the one-mile stretch of the Woodlands Parkway (.895 miles to be exact) being widened to three lanes west of Grogan’s Mill Drive and east of E. Panther Creek, on the north side of the parkway.

Albeit, that’s a 20.90 percent increase since last reported by Woodlands Online April 15, in Road construction projects not keeping up with the flow of traffic, the project is still approximately a third short of completion (31.13 percent to be exact).

Notwithstanding weather and other unforeseen issues, if it takes a quarter of a year to achieve a 20 percent completion rate by Menade Inc., the last third should be achievable by end of year, hopefully before the holiday season. The $785/day overrun fee doesn't appear to be much of an incentive, with overrun charges totalling $86,350 to date, for the110 days past completion,and the meter is still running.

The opening of the south side of the parkway to three lanes in April, has improved the morning traffic commute, but it appears traffic returning to The Woodlands in the evenings will continue to be ensnarled until the end of the year, based on the current rate of progress.

Like water, many commuters are looking for the path of least resistance. The use of Lake Woodlands with more stops signs than traffic lights, keeps traffic moving. This will change when the Hughes Landing development is complete and fully inhabited, but for the time being, moving east and west through The Woodlands is more efficient taking this route.

The installation of flashing yellow, left-turn lights throughout South Montgomery County, has improved traffic flow by allowing cars to proceed when there’s a break in the traffic. Traffic would flow more freely if traffic proceeding straight across intersections would move over to the left lanes and not block traffic that could turn right on a red light.

Completion of Kuykendahl will also help traffic flow in the north section of The Woodlands. The (2600 ft. of Kuykendahl that will connect Crownbridge and Alden Bridge Drives and include a 160-foot bridge, is out for bids, with construction targeted for the September-October time frame. This will provide a north-to-south thoroughfare not only through The Woodlands, but from FM 1488 all the way to I-45N southbound at Rankin Road. It is estimated to take six months to complete the half-mile stretch of road.

The San Jacinto River Authority GRP water line project is running on schedule with segments W1A, W1B, & W4 completed, and W2A & B,and W3A & B, on target for completion by projected dates. For a detailed listing and description of these segments of the project, visit the link provided.

Per some residents, clearing construction areas where projects have been completed, would certainly ease the flow of traffic.

“Some areas are still blocked off because signs and street lights haven’t been put back in place, but the construction project is finished,” said Tony Motto of Sculp-Tours. “They need to clear out the equipment if it’s no longer needed, and clean up the mess.”

Motto has a vested interest in seeing that the mess gets cleaned up. The annual Artist Expo will be returning to The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center next week. Over 5000 people from around the country and surrounding areas, will be attending the art classes, art exhibits, and a fundraising gala. As the show’s promoter, it’s Motto’s concern that The Woodlands won’t be putting its best foot forward for the tourist attending the events.

To see the timelines for other traffic projects in the surrounding areas, visit the Texas Department of Transportation’s Project Tracker in the link provided. The timelines for the current traffic projects in The Woodlands and surrounding areas indicate that the traffic patterns won’t improve significantly any time soon, in fact, the tourist may do better to be afoot.