FM1774 Construction Begins!

[Bonny Pearl]

So it finally begins!

The long anticipated widening of FM1774 begins in August!  The relocation of all the utility lines starts end of June, early July.  More info on the link below.

http://www.tribunenews.com/news/1901-txdot-to-begin-expansion-of-fm-1774.html


Thought this might be useful to anyone who uses this route to get to TRF. 

[ravic]

I travel that every weekend from Labor Day to early December & several week days too. That's gonna be painful.

[Baldr]

ugh.....just as our 1488 cinstruction ends. 

[maeven]

This should be interesting!

[LadyJessica]

Oh fun...not!

[Bonny Pearl]

Yep, it is gonna be painful.  But hopefully they will be done by the 2012 season and traffic will be less painful all around.  This expansion is seriously past due.  Seems like attendance at TRF grows by leaps and bounds each year; just imagine how bad traffic would be if they continued to put this off.  Since we live here and will have to deal with this almost daily, I HAVE to look at the bright side lol.


*sings Monty Python's Always Look on the Bright Side of Life*

[ravic]

How far south on 1774 is Friendship Lane & will the current construction include intersection 0f 1488/1774?

[Bonny Pearl]

Heading north on 249, there is a flashing light and Friendship is on the left, after that you will see the baseball fields on the left.

If I understand correctly, 1774 will go over 1488, sort of like the 2920/249 intersection in Tomball.  They cleared the little cafe that is on the north side of the 1774/1488 intersection, where you have to cross the tracks to continue on 1774, where the billboard for TRF is.  So it looks like the overpass will be elevated enough to clear the train and then blend in to the existing road of 1774 at some point.

[Bonny Pearl]

Dang!!  Just read two other articles.  One says the Grand Parkway through Tomball is all clear for construction AND they are going to finally finish the expansion of 249 from Spring Cypress up to 1774.  I didn't see any start dates for these projects but the funding is in place.  Get ready for a mess!

[maeven]

My husband and I went to the King's Orchard today and even when we were driving over there, we could see that there were other contruction areas already in full swing. It looks like a lot of people will be in traffic for a good hot minute.

[ravic]

Bonnie, when you say overpass, I assume there will still be local access at that corner. Hate to miss the Diner.

I hit 249 @ Zion so the the Grand Parkway is not a biggie for me. By the time 249 construction actually gets that far, I expect to be retired from vendoring. So, it's all good.

[Merlin the Elder]

I know how much of a hassle this will be for you, but I'll have to say as a visitor to your state, Texas seems to have a really good highway system, and pretty well maintained. Maybe I've just been lucky with the routes I've taken, but that's been my experience.

[Bonny Pearl]

Ravic I am sure they will make sure we can get to the diner lol!

Merlin I understand that statement.  Lived in a few different states and used to travel for work.  There are some messed up highways out there.  Glad our roads are easy for you and other folks to navigate.

[Merlin the Elder]

You have to wonder... Arkansas has several of the richest people in the country (we are home to the Waltons [Wal-Mart]). When Sam Walton (at the the time, the richest American) died, his six beneficiaries were in the top ten richest Americans.

So I ask...with that much money in the state, why can we have better roads? education? (they have paid for some nice athletic facilities at the UofA). At one time, the highest concentration of millionaires was actually in Arkansas!! Ah...but I'm rambling again...sorry!

Looking at the maps, FM 1774 looks like about the only way to get to TRF. That may cut into attendance this year...Do you think that will be a major issue, Bonny?

[Glaodian]

This will be nice when it is done.  If you leave before dark, getting out is not so bad.  But once it is dark, everyone else decides to leave and it take 1 to 2 hours to get out.  So hopefully this will change things a bit.

Depending on if I am driving in from home (Silsbee, TX), or driving in from a buddy of mines place (Spring, TX), I either come in from the north or the south.  The north back to Lake Conroe usually is easy sailing.  The south is always backed up since most patrons are from Houston area.