Montgomery County Commissioner James Noack Provides Updates on Road Projects

THE WOODLANDS, TX - Montgomery County Commissioner James Noack provided the following updates, in regards to road projects around the county.

Interstate 45 at Woodlands Parkway/Robinson Road Project Completed

Project scope: This project improved signalization and traffic movement entering and exiting the I-45 frontage roads at Woodlands Parkway and Robinson Road. It reconfigured the cloverleaf at the I-45 frontage roads and added traffic signals. As part of the project, Robinson Road also was widened to four lanes from 350 feet west of the intersection with Patsy Lane/Westwood Drive to 550 feet east of the intersection.

The project started in early March and was completed last month.

Grogan’s Mill Road and South Millbend Drive Intersection Project progressing

Project update: The old directional islands in the middle of the Grogan’s Mill Road-South Millbend Drive intersection and the old signal poles have been removed. Temporary signal poles were installed and new pavement was poured in the middle of the intersection. The extension of the right-turn lane on northbound Grogan’s Mill Road has been poured. The contractor currently is working on the additional left-turn lane of northbound Grogan’s Mill Road. Permanent signal foundation/signal pole work and construction of the additional southbound left-turn lane on Grogan’s Mill will start soon.

The project started at the end of September and is progressing.

Project Scope: This project will create additional turn-lane storage by constructing a second left-turn lane for traffic on:

1. Northbound Grogan’s Mill turning onto westbound South Millbend
2. Southbound Grogan’s Mill turning onto eastbound South Millbend
3. Eastbound South Millbend turning onto northbound Grogan’s Mill

In addition, right-turn lane improvements will be made throughout the intersection.
Signal locations have been redesigned for this project, which will include concrete median removal as well as additional pavement. The project will require rerouting some intersection traffic during the project.

Rayford Road-Birnham Woods Drive Improvements east of Grand Parkway getting underway

The Rayford Road-Birnham Woods Drive road widening, intersection improvement and signalization project is slated to begin this month.

Scope of project: The project will widen Rayford Road to four lanes from approximately 40 feet east of Waterbend Cove to approximately 400 feet east of Birnham Woods Drive. A new concrete roadway will be constructed on the south side of the existing Rayford Road lanes to create the two new eastbound lanes. The existing road will be for the two westbound lanes along that stretch.

The construction includes an additional bridge for eastbound Rayford Road traffic just east of Spring Trails Park Drive.

The project also involves constructing a traffic signal at the Rayford Road-Birnham Woods intersection and widening Birnham Woods Drive to four lanes from approximately 600 feet north of Rayford Road to approximately 600 feet south of Rayford Road. All four Rayford Road-Birnham Woods Drive intersection approaches will have a dedicated left-turn lane.

Estimated start: October

Contract length: 360 calendar days

Construction bid price: $2,876,105.97 (D&W Contractors, Inc.)

Signalization of the Cochran’s Crossing Drive at Bay Branch Drive intersection

Project Update: Signal pole foundations have been completed and the additional northbound and southbound pavement on Cochran's Crossing has been poured. Signal poles are being installed. Striping should be completed next week.

Project Scope: This signalized intersection design will be similar to Branch Crossing at Terramont. It will include a right-turn lane from southbound Cochran’s Crossing onto Bay Branch, as well as a left-turn lane from northbound Cochran’s Crossing onto Bay Branch.

Signalization of the New Trails Drive at Technology Forest Boulevard intersection

Project Update: The poles, signal heads, cabinet and wiring have been installed. Pavement/median work on Technology Forest should start in the coming weeks.

Project Scope: In addition to the traffic signal, eastbound and westbound Technology Forest will be widened to allow for a right-turn only lane and a straight or left-turn lane in both directions. There also will be a crosswalk added at the south side of the intersection, crossing New Trails Drive and connecting the pedestrian pathways.

Rayford Road guard fence replacement

The section of the metal beam guard fence along the Rayford Road curve by Legends Run and Fox Run that was damaged in a vehicle crash will be replaced and align with the new metal beam guard fence installed during the Rayford Road widening project along the road.

The replacement MBGF, which has been ordered, will extend all the way to Legends Reach.

Per the traffic report and witnesses, the vehicle was traveling westbound on Rayford Road at a high rate of speed, clipped another vehicle and exited Rayford Road by Legends Reach prior to entering the curve. The vehicle knocked over a speed limit sign/pole, two flashing directional arrow signs/poles, damaged the guardrail in a few locations before slamming into the metal beam guard fence, bouncing off the rail and coming to a stop in the grass between Rayford Road and the existing guard rail.

According to a design engineer and representative from the guard rail company, it was clear that the existing metal beam guard fence did its job in preventing the vehicle from continuing on a path into a backyard and toward a home.

Striping improvements

Precinct 3 continues to restripe roads.

Recent restriping projects:

• Player Woods Drive
• Stoneyhurst Drive
• Carlton Woods Drive (Woodlands Parkway to Sterling Ridge Drive)
• North Forest Gate Drive (Woodlands Parkway to Sterling Ridge Drive)
• John Cooper Drive (Woodlands Parkway to Flintridge Drive)
• Falconwing Drive
• Rush Haven Drive (Falconwing Drive to Flinthridge)
• Research Forest Drive (Grogan’s Mill Road to Kuykendahl Road) -- Ongoing

Crack seal projects

Recently completed crack seal projects:

• Research Forest Drive (Grogan’s Mill Road to Kuykendahl Road) – Ongoing

More striping, crack seal and asphalt road repair/overlay projects across the precinct will continue.

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