This is an update on current road work in the Katy/Fulshear Area and when to expect some relief from traffic problems.
Interstate 10 is a federal highway and SH 99 (Grand Parkway) is a state road, both are controlled by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) not Fort Bend County.
The traffic signal at SH 99 and Fry Road is controlled by TxDOT, the traffic signal in front of HEB on Fry Road was installed by HEB, and the traffic signal at Fry Road and Seven Meadows Blvd. was installed by the county. We conducted a year-long traffic study on Fry Road to find a solution to one of the worst traffic problems we have in the county. We closed one of the left-turns off of Fry Road into HEB and HEB installed a traffic signal at the second left-turn in order to keep it open. The county is working with TxDOT to synchronize the three traffic signals. TxDOT needs equipment to accomplish this. TxDOT, at our request, recently made the center east-bound lane of Fry Road an optional left turn going north onto SH 99 or straight ahead on Fry. Also, at our request, TxDOT made the center south-bound SH 99 feeder lane a right-turn lane onto Fry to alleviate the back up of traffic on SH 99, which was causing a significant safety issue. However, this modification puts more traffic onto Fry at a quicker pace. Most of the Fry Road east-bound traffic coming out of HEB and Home Depot turns north on SH 99. We are asking the HEB Shopping Center owner to re-configure the center’s parking lot so traffic coming off Fry Road into HEB parking lot does not stack up in the parking lot. This will allow for more vehicles in the parking lot lanes instead of the vehicles being backed up on Fry Road. The turn-lane and parking lot modifications and coordinated traffic signal timing should move traffic quicker and more smoothly. TxDOT will not allow exits/entrances from/to either the HEB or Home Depot Shopping Centers as their studies show this would create safety problems.
The major problem with the severe traffic congestion at Fry & SH 99 is the HEB store is very popular, one of HEB’s highest grossing stores, and this creates additional traffic volume. We initially closed both left-turns off Fry into the HEB center, but that created bigger problems at Seven Meadows Blvd. with many drivers making a U-Turn at the signal to get back to HEB.
TxDOT received funding for two (2) direct connectors (ramps) at I 10 & SH 99, one going from SH 99 east onto I 10 and the other going from I 10 south onto SH 99. Construction is scheduled to begin mid 2010 and will take 18 months. Traffic signals at that intersection will be re-timed to accommodate the direct connectors.
The Fort Bend County/Harris County line is essentially at Kingsland Blvd. and SH 99.
Fort Bend County has begun construction on Katy Gaston from FM 1093 to Cinco Ranch Blvd. with a traffic signal at Fry and Katy Gaston. It will take about 1 year to complete.
The county has also begun construction of the intersection of Greenbusch and Katy Flewellen, which will have a traffic signal and which should be completed within the next 90 days.
The county will begin widening Katy Flewellen to 4 lanes from Greenbusch/Pin Oak to Katy Gaston in February or March 2010. Construction will take 12 to 18 months to complete. The Katy Flewellen/Katy Gaston intersection is now an “All Way” Stop.
The county should begin widening of Greenbusch (Westheimer Parkway) to 4-lanes from Katy Flewellen to Falcon Ranch Blvd. sometime this summer. Work will take 12 – 18 months. We have to wait until the pipeline company moves its existing pipeline.
We are identifying intersections in the Katy area for traffic signals. One under consideration is Fry Road and Spring Green Road. Installation of traffic control devices (signals, stop signs, yield signs, speed limits) are dictated by state law. We are required to have an independent Traffic Study conducted and that Study has to conclude that certain conditions are met before the county can install a traffic control device.
My office is always available to address constituents’ concerns and needs. Please feel free to contact us with any concern.
Sorry for the inconvenience.
Sincerely,
W. A. “Andy” Meyers
County Commissioner Pct. 3