Build Roads Better: Updates from Commissioner Noack

THE WOODLANDS, TX – Montgomery County Precinct 3 Commissioner James Noack recently released updates on roadwork his crews have been working on throughout The Woodlands area.

All lanes open on Birnham Woods Drive as widening project completed

Project Update: All lanes opened on the Birnham Woods Drive widening project the first week of August – prior to the start of the Conroe ISD school year Aug. 10.

The project was contracted for 420 calendar days (basically 14 months) but was completed in around five months, partly due to the full road closures initiated in June and July while school was out for the summer. This enabled contractor Main Lane Industries to work across the full width and length of the project without the confines of continuous two-way traffic along the work zone. Several phases of traffic control and lane shifts were avoided with the full closure, which would not have occurred during the school year. This created much safer working conditions and expedited progress on road construction.

The final asphalt overlay and striping were completed at the beginning of August. The landscaping contractor then placed sod, seed and soil-retention blankets along the roadside and drainage ditches.

The project was awarded in mid-January to Main Lane Industries in the amount of $2,989,756.42. The project started March 1.

Scope: The project widened Birnham Woods Drive from a two-lane asphalt road to a four-lane asphalt road with roadside ditches between Waterbend Cove and Trophy Ridge. It also widened Birnham Woods Drive from a two-lane concrete road to a four-lane concrete road with curb and gutter and underground drainage from Trophy Ridge to Rayford Road.

There also are left-turn lanes in each direction on Birnham Woods Drive at the intersections with Waterbend Cove and Lexington Boulevard.

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Contractor continues work on Gosling Bridge

Project update: Contractor NBG Constructors continues to make progress on the new Gosling Road southbound bridge over Spring Creek, placing panels and completing cement pours, as part of the Gosling Road widening project between Gatewood Reserve Drive and Creekside Forest Drive.

The median crossovers, including by the fire station, have been completed on the north side of the project, with concrete work continuing on the south end as well. In addition, the contractor will be working on the approach on the north side of the bridge.

The project is a joint effort between Montgomery County and Harris County, with Montgomery County Precinct 3 Commissioner James Noack’s office funding $4 million of the $8.2 million project.

The project falls within the boundaries of The Woodlands Township on both sides of the county line.

Scope of project: The project will widen Gosling Road to a full four-lane boulevard between Creekside Forest Drive in Harris County and Gatewood Reserve Lane on the north side of the project in Montgomery County. It will result in two 12-foot lanes in each direction. The road pavement will be 10-inch jointed reinforced concrete with 8-inch stabilized subgrade.

The widening includes the construction of a 1,817-foot bridge crossing over Spring Creek for the two new southbound lanes. The existing bridge lanes will become the two northbound lanes. The sidewalk and existing 8-foot shoulder along the northbound side will remain. The new southbound bridge will have a safety shoulder for motorists to access in case of vehicle breakdown.

Northbound Gosling Road at the intersection with Creekside Forest Drive will be restriped to allow two through lanes of traffic and a left-turn lane.

The additional detention is being constructed on the north side of the project and will drain into Spring Creek.

The construction project started in early December 2021 and is contracted for 429 calendar days.

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Sign Department installing new signs across precinct

The sign department recently installed several new crosswalk signs along Spring Trails Park Drive and Spring Trails Bend and will continue to replace old, fading crosswalk signs in school zones and other areas throughout Precinct 3.

In addition, the sign workers helped the Traffic Operations Department replace overhead street signs at a handful of signalized intersections and will continue to replace intersection signage in the coming months.

The precinct is using “Diamond Grade™ Reflective Sheeting” to replace older signage. The upgraded sheeting will provide greater luminescence, improved legibility, better visibility of signs for drivers and a longer life of the new signage.

The sign department is using new, upgraded print and lamination equipment to fabricate the signs.

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Crack seal work starts on Grogan's Mill Road

Contractor Lone Star Pavement Services has been cleaning out cracks along the northbound Grogan’s Mill Road lanes and shoulder in preparation for crack seal work the week of August 15, weather permitting.

The work is being completed between Sawdust Road and Woodlands Parkway.

Lone Star recently completed crack-sealing on Elan Boulevard and Birnham Woods Drive, as well as seal-coating the South Montgomery County Girls Softball League, Oak Ridge Woodlands Area Little League and South County Football League parking lots off of Pruitt Road.

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Asphalt, concrete projects completed

Contractor Vulcan Materials Company recently completed an asphalt overlay project on Spring Ridge Drive as well as asphalt repairs on a section of Oakhurst Drive.

That came on the heels of Vulcan finishing asphalt surface replacement on Ken Lakes Drive between FM 2978 and Terramont Drive before the start of the Magnolia ISD school year. The district has a school and bus barn off of Ken Lakes Drive.

Contractor Rebel recently completed concrete repair projects at the North Millbend Drive-North Timber Top and Glen Loch Drive-South Panther Creek Drive intersections.

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Striping projects

• Birnham Woods Drive (Elan Boulevard to Grand Parkway) – Ongoing
• Elan Boulevard (Birnham Woods Drive to Aldine Westfield) – Ongoing
• Rayford Road medians (I-45 to Grand Parkeway) – Ongoing
• Gosling Road (Gatewood Reserve Lane to Flintridge Drive) – Ongoing
• Discovery Creek – Ongoing
• Waterbend Cove – Ongoing
• Lexington Boulevard – Ongoing
• Woodson’s Reserve Parkway – Ongoing
• Fox Run Boulevard – Ongoing
• Hanna Road – Ongoing
• Pruitt Road – Ongoing
• Spring Trails Park Drive – Completed
• Bender’s Landing area – Upcoming