HOUSTON – An important stretch along the Grand Parkway is set to open soon, which will hopefully provide some much needed traffic relief to Houston drivers.
The 24-mile stretch between 290 and I-45 will connect Cypress to The Woodlands. It is set to open on FebruaryFeb. 8, which is welcome news to drivers like Kristen Gesford of Liberty County, who often visits friends and goes shopping in Cypress and Spring. “It will be a lot easier. “It will cut off a lot of curves, turns and stop and go-and-go traffic,” Gesford said.
Construction on the stretch began in 2013. It’s one of TXDOT’s largest projects, in an area that is seeing rapid growth. “It will help provide better access to the area, better connectivity and we hope to release some of the congestion on those arterials that are feeding into the city,” said Quincy Allen of TXDOT.
The route will also eventually connect I-45 to US-59U.S. 59, then it will head toward Baytown. The corridor has two lanes that will stretch over seven counties.
Of course, not everyone is optimistic about the new roadway. Spring resident Candus Villarreal fears it will create congestion on more residential streets near the entrance and exit ramps of the Grand Parkway. “If you're local it’s really just going to be a bigger pain in the butt,” Villarreal said.
From Feb. 8-15 drivers can test out the new road for free. After that they will need their EZ Tags or TXTags.