Politics & Government
Montgomery County Cuts Deal with Harris County On Texas 249 Bridge
Harris County will construct new bridge over Spring Creek that will connect both segments of Texas 249 construction in 2017
CONROE, TX -- Montgomery County Commissioners have agreed to a deal that will allow Harris County to complete the bridge when they begin building their portion of the Texas 249 project in January.
According to Richard Muller, the Muller Law Group that represents the Montgomery County Toll Road Authority, Montgomery County will be responsible for constructing two ramps and designing the toll plazas to match the design used by Harris County.
Montgomery County will also reimburse Harris County $1.2 million for work where the bridge meets the roadway.
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"By paying them to do our project, we save about $1.5 million," said Muller, adding that Harris County is planning to start construction on the bridge in January.
Once the construction is completed in 2019, the new segments of Texas 249 will extend from Spring-Cypress Road south of Tomball, through Montgomery County and into Grimes County.
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The segments in Tomball, the first phase of which was completed in April 2015, are tolled, and the segments through Montgomery County will also have a toll.
However, the segments in Grimes County, which are being built by the Texas Department of Transportation, will not be tolled.
The drive to build what has been dubbed "The Aggie Expressway," has been full throttle since the 249 Partnership -- comprised of representatives from Tomball, Magnolia, and Navasota -- was formed in 2012.
The first phase, completed in 2015, took two years to complete, and spans 6 miles from Spring-Cypress Road to FM 2920 in Tomball.
Phase two, which will be built starting in 2017, and continue through early 2019, will span about 1.5 miles from FM 2920 to the Montgomery County line at Spring Creek.
The total cost of the project in Harris County is about $335 million.
Montgomery County, will begin building their portion of the project in April 2017, and will span from Spring Creek to FM 1774 in Pinehurst.
The Montgomery County portion of the project is anticipated to cost about $30 million
Image: Shutterstock
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