Texas State Highway 99

State Highway 99 marker

State Highway 99
Grand Parkway
Route information
Length: 71.9 mi (115.7 km)
Existed: 1994 – present
Segment 1
Length: 57.4 mi (92.4 km)
CCW end: I-69 / US 59 in Sugar Land
CW end: I-45 in Spring
Segment 2
Length: 14.5 mi (23.3 km)
CCW end: I-10 in Mont Belvieu
CW end:
Bus. SH 146 in Baytown
Highway system
← SH 98SH 100 →

State Highway 99, also known as the Grand Parkway, is a Texas highway which opened its first section in 1994. When State Highway 99 is complete, it will be the longest beltway in the U.S., and the third (outer) loop within Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land metropolitan area, with Interstate 610 being the first (inner) loop, and Beltway 8 (Sam Houston Tollway) being the second (middle) loop. The proposed 170-mile (270 km) loop has been divided into 11 separate segments for construction and funding purposes.[1] Only 5 of the 11 segments are complete. As of December 25, 2011, all segments except A have been fully funded.

Previous routes

In 1926, SH 99 was a minimal highway from Fort Stockton to San Angelo. By 1933, SH 99 had extended to Alpine. By 1935, this route was transferred to SH 10. In 1960, a new route was made for SH 99, going from Denton to the Oklahoma line, replacing the old routing of SH 10. SH 10 then was changed to SH 99 to match OK 99 at its border. In 1968, this route became US 377.

Segments

Overview

Segment Status (Planned)
completion 		From To Length
(miles) 		(Future)
Toll Road
A Design alternates Unknown SH 146 I-45 south tbd tbd
B Recommended alternate
Construction is planned to start in 2019[2]		 2023[2] I-45 south SH 288 south 28.2 (yes)
C Recommended alternate
Construction is planned to start in 2016[2]		 2019[2] SH 288 south I-69 / US 59 south 26.9 (yes)
D Completed; toll collected. 1994 I-69 / US 59 south I-10 / US 90 west 18.2 (partial)
E 2013 I-10 / US 90 west US 290 / SH 6 15.2 yes
F-1 Completed; toll collected. 2016 US 290 / SH 6 SH 249 / Tomball Tollway 11.9 (yes)
F-2 2016 SH 249 / Tomball Tollway I-45 north 12.1 (yes)
G Construction began June 2013. 2016.[2] I-45 north I-69 / US 59 north 13.6 (yes)
H & I-1 Recommended alternate
Construction is planned to start in 2016[2][3]		 2019[2] I-69 / US 59 north I-10 east 37.3 (yes)
I-2 Completed; toll collected 2008 I-10 east SH 146 14.5 yes

Segment A

Segment A is a planned segment that will go from SH 146 to I-45 South. The completion date is unknown, but it is rumored to be completed after all the other segments.

Segment B

Segment B Construction is planned to begin in 2019 and finish in late 2023. This segment extends from I-45 South to SH 288 South.

Segment C

Segment C Construction is planned to begin in 2016 and finish in late 2019. This segment extends from SH 288 South to I-69 / US 59 South.

Segment D

Segment D, the first section opened, runs from just north of Interstate 10, west of Houston, south to Interstate 69/US 59 in Sugar Land where it terminates and intersects with FM 2759. The portion of this segment south of the interchange with the Westpark Tollway is currently a four-lane divided highway, which will become feeder roads once the main lanes are constructed. The section north of the Westpark Tollway intersection is currently a four-lane controlled-access freeway.

The 18-month-long construction of two ramps connecting westbound I-10 to southbound SH-99 and northbound SH-99 to eastbound I-10 was completed in 2011. The occasional traffic jams at this intersection prompted the sped-up construction of the ramps before the through lanes of SH-99 were built through the I-10 interchange. Two more ramps connecting southbound SH-99 to eastbound I-10 and westbound I-10 to northbound SH-99 opened as part of the construction of Segment E in December 2013. A final ramp connecting northbound SH-99 to westbound I-10 has been completed in June 2014 but has not officially opened up for traffic; as of July 2014, the ramp is still closed to the general public since the road signage has not been installed.

Between the Westpark Tollway and I-69/US 59, Fort Bend County has constructed toll overpasses at nine locations along Highway 99. Motorists are charged around 35¢ to use each overpass, or can bypass the toll by using the current roadway through the signalized intersections.[4] Overpasses between I-69/US 59 and US 90-Alt. opened on February 27, 2014, Airport Boulevard and Harlem Road on March 18, 2014, and Mason Road and Bellfort Street on March 30, 2014. The rest of the tolled overpasses to I-10 opened in late April 2014.[5]

Segment E

September 2011 construction began on Segment E connecting I-10 Katy Freeway in the south to US 290 and opened in December 2013. On June 3, 2008 the Harris County Commissioners Court voted to fast track the construction of Segment E with construction to begin in 2009 and then came the addition of $150 million in Stimulus money yet still the project stalled. As with many Stimulus projects it turned out not to be "shovel ready" enough and the $150 million was sent back to TXDOT for use elsewhere.[6] In 2011 the Wetlands permit from the Army Corp of Engineers was acquired. In addition, Harris County relinquishing its rights to TXDOT who will construct a Public Private Cooperative toll road. At its April 28, 2011 meeting TXDOT allocated $350 million and the construction permits were let in July 2011.[6] On July 28, 2011 TXDOT reported that three out of four contracts for Segment E were awarded and that construction would start by early September 2011.[7]

The multi year reconstruction of I-10 was completed in 2008 while US 290 reconstruction was not due to even start until 2011. "[8] The 22-mile (35 km) long section of I-10 from the suburb town of Katy to just inside the I-610 loop has expanded it to handle the rapidly expanding western suburbs of Houston not just adding lanes, but also an expanded HOV with two lanes in both directions where there was one lane reversed back and forth with rush hour and a toll lane for commuters willing to pay congestion prices for the quicker ride. The idea put forth is that Segment E is toll-viable from the start meaning it would pay for itself with tolls collected because of the need to relieve traffic on US 290 along with the continued expansion of the western suburbs. After US 290 construction is completed and less traffic is diverting down the E Segment of the Grand Parkway; the reasoning is that the inevitable population explosion going on in the area would not just replace the lost traffic from the US 290 completion, but increase its use.

Segment F-1

Segment F-1 connects US 290 to Texas State Highway 249. Construction began June 2013 and was completed and opened to traffic on February 5, 2016.[9][10]

Segment F-2

Segment F-2 connects Texas State Highway 249 with I-45. Construction began on Segment F-2 in June 2013. A one-mile section of frontage road lanes between I-45 and Holzwarth Road (near the ExxonMobil Campus in Spring) was completed and opened to traffic in April 2015. The remainder of Segment F-2 opened on February 5, 2016[11][10]

Segment G

Segment G connects I-45 with I-69/US 59 North. Construction began June 2013 with a scheduled completion date in April 2016.[6][9]

Segment H and I-1

Texas Transportation Commission members met in Pasadena on 26 June 2015, and one item on their agenda is soliciting interested builders to develop, build and maintain the next 37.4 mile Grand Parkway segment from Interstate 69/US 59 north of Houston to Interstate 10 east of the city. The project, expected to begin construction in 2016, is expected to cost $1.2 billion.[3]

Segment I-2

The southern end of the tolled portion of segment I-2

Segment I-2, which opened on March 25, 2008 after five years of construction, runs from Interstate 10 east of Houston south to Business State Highway 146 in Baytown. (The former Spur 55, which ran from FM 1405 to Business 146, was renumbered SH 99 and connects with the newly constructed portion of Segment I-2 at FM 1405.)

TxDOT began collecting tolls on this segment on November 1, 2011. Motorists are able to pay tolls using TxTag, EZ TAG or TollTag transponders. No cash or mail payments are available on this segment. Tag reader gantries have been installed on the mainline just south of FM 565, and on the northbound entrance and southbound exit ramps at FM 565. Tolls will be $1 for two-axle vehicles.[12]

Future construction

  1. The next section to be opened is Section G; scheduled to open in April 2016.
  2. The next sections to be constructed are Section C along with Sections H and I-1, which will include improvements/upgrades to Section I-2. These sections are scheduled to begin construction in 2016.

Future sections of the Grand Parkway will most likely be built as tollways.

Opposition and support

Current residents who live along the Grand Parkway in Harris and Fort Bend counties (namely in the Cinco Ranch/Falcon Point areas within segment D) have noticed increased noise due to expansion of the highway, which includes construction of new overpasses as well as increased growth in the surrounding area. Sound barriers have not been constructed based on a 20+ year environmental study. Resident petitions and protests for a new sound barrier study have not been addressed and Texas DOT claims "This section of the Grand Parkway does not qualify for that."[13] Further expansion in this area is planned to start in 2010 with two tollway lanes added in each direction.[14]

Some groups in some neighborhoods are opposing the idea of the Grand Parkway going through their neighborhoods. For instance, a group called "United to Save Our Spring" is trying to stop the Parkway from going through a neighborhood off FM 2920. Residents in other unincorporated areas such as The Woodlands have not shown the same opposition and support the construction of the Grand Parkway, namely segments E, F-1, F-2, and G, as this would give residents living in the outer suburbs a toll road option to drive to San Antonio, Austin, northeast Texas, or Louisiana without having to drive through the city of Houston.

Some residents in Brazoria County, along segment B, have voiced opposition to several of the proposed alignments. However, TxDOT has recently proposed a fifth alternative alignment to the north of Alvin. This alternative is acceptable to the opposition group Citizens Against the Grand Parkway and is likely to encounter much less opposition from the community.[15]

The controversial segment A, which would stretch from Texas State Highway 146 to Interstate 45 southeast of Houston through a very developed area, has not been fully designed yet. Texas Highway 146 is a possible route of the highway during segment A, but TXDOT has released plans for the highway to intersect I-45 from the west at its intersection with FM-646. This intersection has many businesses around it and could not support a major highway running through it without tearing down existing businesses, as seen on aerial photos available on Google Maps.[16] If the highway continued south on Highway 146 to its intersection with FM 646 (Supposing the highway was built along the route of FM-646), it would eventually have to pass through the town of Kemah, which could not support a large highway unless many businesses were destroyed as seen on Google Maps[16] A merger with I-45 along the route is much more likely and would cause less public outrage.

Exit list

All exits are unnumbered.

CountyLocationmikmDestinationsNotes
Fort BendSugar Land I-69 / US 59 / Crabb River Road
 Riverpark Driveinterchange; south end of freeway
 New Territory Boulevard
 
Alt. US 90 / FM 1464 / Sandhill Drive
 Airport Boulevard / Harlem Road
HoustonMason Road / Bellfort Street
Peek Roadproposed interchange (currently only a turnaround)
Bellaire Boulevard
FM 1093 / Fort Bend Westpark Tollway east
Fry Road
Westheimer Parkway
Cinco Ranch Boulevard
Bay Hill Boulevard / Highland Knolls Drive
HarrisKingsland Boulevard
SH 99 north (Frontage Road)northbound (clockwise) exit and southbound (counterclockwise) entrance, access to Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital
I-10 (US 90) – San Antonio, HoustonI-10 exit 743B
Franz Road / Colonial Parkway / I-10 Frontage Road
 Morton Ranch Road
HoustonClay Road
  FM 529
 West RoadRoad not connected yet; no northbound exit
 Tuckerton RoadRoad not connected yet.
 Bridgeland Creek Parkway
 North Bridgeland Lake Parkway
 Louetta Road
  US 290 (SH 6) – Austin, Houston
 Cumberland Ridge Drive
 Mueschke Road
 Cypress Rose Hill Road
 Telge Road
Houston SH 249 / Tomball Tollway / Boudreaux RoadAccess to Tomball Tollway via Frontage Road.
Gleannloch Forest Drive / Champion Forest Drive
FM 2920 / Boudreaux Road
Boudreaux Road / Kuykendahl Road / Spring Stuebner RoadBoudreaux Road for eastbound traffic and Spring Stuebner Road for westbound traffic
Gosling Road
 Springwoods Village Parkway / Holzwarth RoadEastbound exit and westbound entrance; Springwoods Village Parkway does not connect yet
  I-45 south – HoustonAccess to I-45 Southbound via Frontage Road.
  I-45 north – DallasDirect Ramp to I-45 Northbound
  Hardy Toll Road southUnder construction;  Northbound users need to use the Interstate 45 north exit.
Montgomery Springs Trails Ridge (Riley Fuzzel Road)Under construction
 Rayford RoadUnder construction
 Birnham Woods DriveUnder construction
 Townsen RoadUnder construction
  FM 1314Under construction
 Valley Ranch BoulevardUnder construction
  I-69 south / US 59 south / Loop 494 / Community Drive – HoustonUnder construction;  Temporary access to Loop 494 via Community Drive.
  I-69 north / US 59 north – ClevelandUnder construction
Gap in route
Chambers  I-10 – Beaumont, HoustonI-10 exit 799.
 Old Needlepoint Road
 Kilgore Parkway
  FM 565 / FM 2354 – Cove, Beach City
 Turnaround
 Fisher Roadsouth (clockwise) end of freeway
 Turnaroundinterchange
  FM 1405 to SH 146 – Beach CityAt-grade intersection
BaytownWest Bay RoadAt-grade intersection
 Koppel RoadAt-grade intersection
 Turnaroundinterchange; southbound (clockwise) exit and northbound (counterclockwise) entrance
HarrisBaytownTri Cities Beach RoadAt-grade intersection

Bus. SH 146		At-grade intersection
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

  1. ↑ Grand Parkway Association. "Grand Parkway Segments". Retrieved 2008-08-13.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 http://www.grandpky.com/downloads/ScheduleOfActivities.pdf
  3. 1 2 "Texas 130 toll road on edge of default". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved June 19, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Toll Rates - Fort Bend County Toll Road Authority". Retrieved April 21, 2014.
  5. ↑ fbctrac1. "Current Projects - Fort Bend County Toll Road Authority". fbctra.com.
  6. 1 2 3 "West Houston Association". westhouston.org.
  7. ↑ http://www.txdot.gov/news/local_news/houston_news/043-2011.htm Archived June 16, 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ↑ RAD SALLEE (2007-06-03). "Fast lane sought for parkway plan". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2007-06-04.
  9. 1 2 "Grand Parkway, Cy-Fair - Community Impact Newspaper". Community Impact Newspaper.
  10. 1 2 "New section of Grand Parkway opens early". ABC13 Houston.
  11. ↑ Begley, Dug. "Grand Parkway frontage roads open to ease flow around I-45". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved April 11, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Rates". Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  13. ↑ Kevin Quinn (2007-05-31). "Residents suffer from Grand Parkway growing pains". abc13.com. Retrieved 2007-06-01.
  14. ↑ Betty L. Martin (2007-05-23). "Parkway toll plan gets mixed reaction". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2007-06-01.
  15. ↑ Progress on Grand Parkway moving slowly. John Tompkins, The Facts. November 12, 2006. Last accessed November 26, 2006.
  16. 1 2 "Grand Parkway". grandpky.com.

Further reading

External links

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