Officials Break Ground on Highway 288 Expansion.

HOUSTON, TX -- The expansion of Highway 288 in Southeast Houston is officially underway.

Officials the Harris County, and the Texas Department of Transportation broke ground on the highway project that will add direct connectors to Beltway 8 and Loop 610, as well as add toll lanes to expand 288.

TxDOT plans to help alleviate the congestion by expanding the highway, and create a toll facility to run from downtown to the Harris County Line with the managed lanes will continue into Brazoria County.

While this is an $800 million project, only $27.6 million was awarded from the state.

So, in a unique partnership, this project will be funded by the outside contractor Blueridge Transportation Group.

The improvements will stretch from the Southwest Freeway to the Harris County line at Clear Creek.

Construction is expected to be finished in 2019.

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