Texas State Highway 99

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State Highway 99

Grand Parkway
Map
Opened section of SH 99 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by TxDOT and FBCTRA
Length123 mi (198 km)
ExistedAugust 1994–present
Major junctions
CCW end I-69 / US 59 / FM 2759 in Sugar Land
Major intersections
CW end SH 146 in Baytown
Location
CountryUnited States
StateTexas
CountiesFort Bend, Harris, Montgomery, Liberty, Chambers
Highway system
← SH 98→ SH 100

State Highway 99 (SH 99), also known as the Grand Parkway, is a ring road in the U.S. state of Texas. Its first section opened on August 31, 1994. When the route is completed, it will be the longest beltway in the U.S., the world's seventh-longest ring road, and the third (outer) loop of the 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] In May 2019, the Texas Department of Transportation gave the Grand Parkway a secondary designation as the Mayor Bob Lanier Memorial Parkway, honoring Bob Lanier, who served as the mayor of Houston from 1992 to 1998 and who had spearheaded the creation of the Grand Parkway.[2]

History

Historic SH 99

A previous route designated SH 99 was established on August 18, 1924, from San Angelo to Fort Stockton.[3] On June 25, 1929, SH 99 was extended to Alpine.[4] On March 2, 1932, a spur to Sherwood with the designation SH 99A was added, but was maintained by the county.[5] On July 23, 1934, this route was transferred to SH 10, and SH 99A was cancelled by then.[6] The route is part of present-day U.S. Route 67 (US 67).

On October 29, 1960, a new route was designated for SH 99, from Denton to the Oklahoma state line as a renumbering of SH 10, to match OK 99 at the border. On April 29, 1968, this route became part of US 377.

On October 25, 1984, SH 99 was designated along a very similar route to its current one, but ending at SH 146 (then Loop 201) and Spur 330. On March 28, 2002, SH 99 was rerouted further east along a new route south to Spur 55 and along Spur 55 to Business SH 146. Spur 55 was cancelled, effective upon the completion of that section of SH 99 in 2008.

Route description

The Grand Parkway project is divided into several segments for construction and administrative purposes. The section from Interstate 69 (I-69) in Sugar Land north to the Westpark Tollway is the southern portion of Segment D and is maintained by the Fort Bend County Toll Road Authority. The remainder of Segment D, which runs from the Westpark Tollway north to I-10, along with the other completed segments as of 2022, are maintained by the Texas Department of Transportation.[7]

Speed limits on the Grand Parkway are 65 to 75 mph (105 to 121 km/h).

Tolls may be paid using one of the Texas toll tag transponders (TxTag, EZ TAG, and TollTag), the Kansas Turnpike Authority's K-TAG, or the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority's Pikepass. No cash payments are accepted. As of 2020, a pay-by-mail option is available on segments maintained by TxDOT.[8][9]

Segment Status (Planned)
completion		 From To Length
(miles)		 (Future)
Toll Road
A Currently not considered a viable project[10] Unknown SH 146 I-45 TBD (yes)
B Construction has yet to be scheduled[11] Unknown I-45 SH 288 28.0 (yes)
C Construction was originally scheduled to begin in August 2016, but the plans were re-evaluated and re-approved on March 9, 2017[12] Unknown SH 288 I-69 / US 59 26.0 (yes)
D Completed; toll collected 1994 I-69 / US 59 I-10 / US 90 18.2 partial
E 2013 I-10 / US 90 US 290 / SH 6 15.2 yes
F-1 2016 US 290 / SH 6 SH 249 / Tomball Tollway 11.9 yes
F-2 2016 SH 249 / Tomball Tollway I-45 12.1 yes
G 2016 I-45 I-69 / US 59 13.6 yes
H & I-1 2022 I-69 / US 59 I-10 37.4 yes
I-2 2008 I-10 SH 146 14.5 yes

Segment A

Segment A would extend from SH 146 near San Leon to I-45 in League City. As of November 2022, it is not considered a viable project.[10]

Segment B

Segment B will extend from I-45 in League City to SH 288 near Rosharon. As of August 2021, construction has not yet been scheduled.[11]

Segment C

Segment C will extend from SH 288 near Rosharon to I-69/US 59 in Sugar Land.[12] As of January 2022, its estimated completion date is to be determined.[13]

Segment D

Segment D, the first section opened, runs from just north of I-10/US 90, west of Houston, south to I-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 now a four-lane divided highway feeder road, with mainlanes crossing over the Westpark Tollway.

The 18-month-long construction of two ramps connecting westbound I-10/US 90 to southbound SH 99 and northbound SH 99 to eastbound I-10/US 90 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/US 90 interchange. Two more ramps connecting southbound SH 99 to eastbound I-10/US 90 and westbound I-10/US 90 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/US 90 has been completed and is operational.

Between the Westpark Tollway and I-69/US 59, Fort Bend County has constructed toll overpasses at nine locations along SH 99. Overpasses between I-69/US 59 and US 90 Alternate 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 remainder of the tolled overpasses to I-10/US 90 opened in late April 2014.[14] Motorists in 2-axle vehicles may pay between $0.46 and $0.69 to use each overpass, or they may bypass the toll by using the current roadway through the signalized intersections.[15]

A TxDOT study is currently underway for Segment D.[16] The study includes looking at ways to reduce traffic in the original segment of the non-tolled portion of the freeway; this includes the possibility of adding continuous frontage roads. This segment has been open since 1994 and population, and thus traffic, in the surrounding area has increased greatly since. There is no timetable on when or if any new projects will come out of this study.

Segment E

Segment E connects I-10/US 90 Katy Freeway in the south near Katy to US 290/SH 6 near Cypress. Construction began in summer 2011,[17] and Segment E opened as scheduled in December 2013.[18]

On June 3, 2008, the Harris County Commissioners Court voted to fast-track the construction of Segment E, with construction to begin in 2009. Despite the addition of $150 million in stimulus funding, the project stalled. As with many stimulus-funded projects, the construction of Segment E turned out not to be "shovel ready" enough, and the funds were sent back to TxDOT for use elsewhere.[19] In 2011, the Wetlands permit from the Army Corps of Engineers was acquired. In addition, Harris County relinquished its rights to TxDOT so that the latter could construct a public–private cooperative toll road. At its meeting on April 28, 2011, TxDOT allocated $350 million, and the construction permits were let in July 2011.[19] 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.[20]

The multi-year reconstruction of I-10/US 90 was completed in 2008, while US 290/SH 6 reconstruction was not scheduled to begin until 2011.[21] The 22-mile (35 km) section of I-10/US 90 from Katy to just inside the I-610 loop was expanded to handle the rapidly-growing western suburbs with additional mainlanes and two high-occupancy toll lanes.

Segment F-1

Segment F-1 connects US 290/SH 6 near Cypress to SH 249 near Tomball. Construction began in June 2013 and was completed and opened to traffic on February 5, 2016.[22][23] In early 2020, construction commenced on four direct connectors: two from northbound Tomball Tollway to east and westbound Grand Parkway, and two connecting to southbound Tomball Tollway from east and westbound Grand Parkway. The project is scheduled for completion in 2022.[24]

Segment F-2

Segment F-2 connects SH 249 near Tomball with I-45 near Spring. 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.[23][25]

Segment G

Segment G connects I-45 near Spring with I-69/US 59 in New Caney. Construction began in June 2013 and was completed and opened to traffic on March 29, 2016. An interchange with the Hardy Toll Road was completed on July 18, 2016.[19][22][26]

Segments H and I-1

Segments H and I-1 extend from I-69/US 59 north of Houston to I-10. Texas Transportation Commission members met in Pasadena in late June 2015, and one item on their agenda is soliciting interested builders to develop, build and maintain the next 37.4 mi (60.2 km) Grand Parkway segment from I-69/US 59 north of Houston to I-10 east of the city. The project, which began construction in the summer of 2017,[27] was expected to cost $1.2 billion. Due to Hurricane Harvey, the completion date was delayed from 2019 to May 2022, when it opened.

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 I-10 east of Houston south to Business SH 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.

Opposition and support

Residents who live along the Grand Parkway in Harris and Fort Bend counties, namely in the Cinco Ranch and 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 an environmental study that is over 30 years old. Resident petitions and protests for a new sound barrier study have not been addressed, and TxDOT claims that the section of the route in the area "does not qualify for that."[28] Further expansion in this area is planned to start in 2010 with two tollway lanes added in each direction.[29]

Some groups of residents oppose the idea of the Grand Parkway going through their neighborhoods. The group United to Save Our Spring tried to stop the Grand Parkway from going through a neighborhood off FM 2920. Residents in other unincorporated areas such as The Woodlands have not shown the same opposition, instead supporting the construction of the Grand Parkway, namely Segments E, F-1, F-2, and G,[30] as the route would give residents living in the outer suburbs a toll road option for long-distance travel, as opposed to having to drive through the city of Houston or using the Sam Houston Tollway to bypass the city.

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.[31]

The controversial Segment A, which would stretch from SH 146 to I-45 southeast of Houston through a very developed area, has not been fully designed yet. SH 146 is a possible routing of the highway in Segment A, but TxDOT has released plans for the highway to intersect I-45 from the west at its intersection with FM 646. If the highway were to continue south on SH 146 to its intersection with FM 646 (supposing that it is 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.[32]

Exit list

All exits are unnumbered.

CountyLocationmikmDestinationsNotes
Fort BendSugar Land FM 2759 (Crabb River Road)Continuation south of I-69/US 59
I-69 / US 59 – Victoria, HoustonI-69/US 59 exit 104; access to I-69/US 59 via frontage roads
Riverpark Driveinterchange; current south end of toll road
Riverpark Toll Plaza[33]
Electronic toll tags only, cash and pay-by-mail not allowed
New Territory Boulevard
New Territory Toll Plaza[33]
Electronic toll tags only, cash and pay-by-mail not allowed
Richmond
 US 90 Alt. / FM 1464 / Sandhill Drive
US 90A Toll Plaza[33]
Electronic toll tags only, cash and pay-by-mail not allowed
Harlem Toll Plaza[33]
Electronic toll tags only, cash and pay-by-mail not allowed
Gantry is located between Harlem Road and West Airport Boulevard
West Airport Boulevard / Harlem Road
West Bellfort Toll Plaza[33]
Electronic toll tags only, cash and pay-by-mail not allowed
Gantry is located between Mason Road and Bellfort Street
Mason Road / Bellfort Street
Peek RoadRoad not connected yet
Bellaire Toll Plaza[33]
Electronic toll tags only, cash and pay-by-mail not allowed
Bellaire Boulevard
FM 1093 / Fort Bend Westpark TollwayLast free southbound (counterclockwise) exit before start of FBCTRA's Grand Parkway Toll Road
Westpark Toll Plaza[33]
Electronic toll tags only, cash and pay-by-mail not allowed
Southbound gantry is located after the last free exit to FM 1093
Fort Bend Westpark Tollway eastDirect Ramp to eastbound Fort Bend Westpark Tollway
Fry Road
Cinco RanchWestheimer Parkway
Cinco Ranch Boulevard
KatyBay 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; last free exit for northbound (clockwise) SH 99 traffic
I-10 (US 90) – San Antonio, HoustonI-10 exit 743B; last free northbound (clockwise) exit before start of toll road
Franz Road / Colonial Parkway / I-10 Frontage Road
Morton Ranch Road
Clay Road
Spencer Mainlane Toll Plaza[34]
Electronic toll tags or pay-by-mail (cash not accepted)
Cypress FM 529
West Road
Tuckerton Road
Bridgeland Creek Parkway
North Bridgeland Lake ParkwayRoad not connected yet
Northwest Mainlane Toll Plaza[34]
Electronic toll tags or pay-by-mail (cash not accepted)
Northbound gantry is near Louetta Road and southbound gantry is near North Bridgeland Lake Parkway
Louetta RoadRoad not connected yet
US 290 (SH 6) – Austin, Houston
Mason Mainlane Toll Plaza[34]
Electronic toll tags or pay-by-mail (cash not accepted)
Cumberland Ridge Drive / Cypresswood DriveCypresswood Drive not signed northbound
TomballMueschke Road
Cypress Rosehill Road
Telge Road
SH 249 Mainlane Toll Plaza[34]
Electronic toll tags or pay-by-mail (cash not accepted)

 Tomball Tollway south		Eastbound and westbound direct ramps to Tomball Tollway south.[24][35][36]


 SH 249 to Tomball Tollway north / Frontage Road / Boudreaux Road / Rocky Road		Access to northbound Tomball Tollway via frontage roads.
Gleannloch Forest Drive / Champion Forest Drive
Champions Forest Mainlane Toll Plaza[34]
Electronic toll tags or pay-by-mail (cash not accepted)
FM 2920 / Spring Stuebner Road – Tomball, Hooks Airport
SpringKuykendahl Road / Spring Stuebner Road
Gosling Road
Mossy Oaks Mainlane Toll Plaza[34]
Electronic toll tags or pay-by-mail (cash not accepted)
Springwoods Village Parkway / Holzwarth RoadAccess to St. Luke's Health - Springwoods Village Hospital[37]


 To I-45 south – Houston, George Bush Intercontinental Airport		Access to I-45 Southbound via frontage roads, exit 71.

 I-45 north – Dallas		Direct Ramp to I-45 Northbound, exit 71.
Hardy Mainlane Toll Plaza[34]
Electronic toll tags or pay-by-mail (cash not accepted)

 Hardy Toll Road south		No exit to northbound Hardy Toll Road.
MontgomeryRiley Fuzzel Mainlane Toll Plaza[34]
Electronic toll tags or pay-by-mail (cash not accepted)
Rayford RoadEastbound exit and westbound entrance
Riley Fuzzel RoadWestbound exit and eastbound entrance
Birnham Woods Drive / Rayford RoadRayford Road not signed eastbound
Townsen Boulevard / Imperial Promenade DriveTownsen Boulevard not connected yet
PorterHighlands ParkwayFormerly Riverwalk Drive[38]
FM 1314 – Porter, Conroe
Valley Ranch Mainlane Toll Plaza[34]
Electronic toll tags or pay-by-mail (cash not accepted)
I-69 / US 59 / Loop 494 / Community Drive / Valley Ranch Boulevard – Houston, ClevelandI-69/US 59 exits 157A-B northbound; eastbound exit and westbound entrance; access to I-69 and Loop 494 via frontage roads; US 59 does not appear on exit signage
New Caney I-69 / US 59 – Cleveland, HoustonDirect Ramp to I-69/US 59, exit 157 southbound; US 59 does not appear on exit signage
FM 1485 Mainlane Toll Plaza[34]
Electronic toll tags or pay-by-mail (cash not accepted)
FM 1485 / Wilderness RoadEastbound exit and westbound entrance
Galaxy BoulevardRoad not connected yet
HarrisHuffman-Cleveland Road
LibertyMiller Wilson RoadRoad not connected yet
​Community DriveRoad not connected yet
​Wolf Trot Mainlane Toll Plaza[34]
Electronic toll tags or pay-by-mail (cash not accepted)
​Wolf Trot RoadRoad not connected yet
​Kingwood RoadRoad not connected yet
​ FM 686
​ FM 1960 – Dayton, Humble
​ US 90 – Houston, Liberty
​ FM 1413
​SH 146 Mainlane Toll Plaza[34]
Electronic toll tags or pay-by-mail (no cash accepted)
Chambers​ SH 146 – Mont Belvieu, Dayton
​ FM 565 – Mont Belvieu
​ I-10 / Langston Drive / Old Needlepoint Road – Houston, BeaumontI-10 exit 799; access to I-10 via frontage roads.
​Kilgore Parkway
​ FM 565 / FM 2354 – Cove, Beach City
​Cotton Lake Mainlane Toll Plaza[34]
Electronic toll tags or pay-by-mail (cash not accepted)
​Turnaround
​Cedar Port Parkway
​ FM 1405
​FM 1405 Mainlane Toll Plaza[34]
Electronic toll tags or pay-by-mail (cash not accepted)
HarrisBaytown
 Bus. SH 146, Tri Cities Beach Road, ML Wisner Drive
SH 146 Business Mainlane Toll Plaza[34]
Electronic toll tags or pay-by-mail (cash not accepted)
Lee Drive / Causeway RoadEastbound exit and westbound entrance; last free eastbound (counterclockwise) exit before start of toll road


 To SH 146 north, Wyoming Drive

 SH 146 south – La Porte
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Notes

References

  1. ^ Grand Parkway Association. "Grand Parkway Segments". Retrieved August 13, 2008.
  2. ^ "Portions of Grand Parkway named for former Houston mayor Bob Lanier". Click2Houston. May 20, 2019. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  3. ^ "Minutes of the Eighty-third and First Adjourned Regular Meeting of the State Highway Commission" (PDF). August 18, 1924.
  4. ^ "Minutes of the One Hundred and Thirty-fifth Meeting of the State Highway Commission" (PDF). June 25, 1929.
  5. ^ "Minutes of the One-Hundred Seventy-Ninth Meeting of the State Highway Commission" (PDF). March 12, 1934.
  6. ^ "Minutes of the One-Hundred Eighty-Seventh Meeting of the Highway Commission" (PDF). July 16, 1934.
  7. ^ "Grand Parkway Toll Information". Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  8. ^ "Rates". Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  9. ^ Rates Effective Jan. 1, 2020 TxTag.org Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  10. ^ a b "SH 99 Grand Parkway segment A - SH 146 to I-45 South". www.txdot.gov. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  11. ^ a b "SH 99 Grand Parkway segment B - I-45 South to SH 288". www.txdot.gov. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  12. ^ a b "SH 99 Grand Parkway segment C - SH 288 to US 59 South". www.txdot.gov. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  13. ^ "Project Tracker". Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  14. ^ fbctrac1. "Current Projects – Fort Bend County Toll Road Authority". fbctra.com. Archived from the original on March 6, 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  15. ^ "Toll Rates – Fort Bend County Toll Road Authority". Retrieved August 17, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. ^ "TxDOT to consider feeder roads on Segment D of Grand Parkway | Community Impact". October 14, 2016.
  17. ^ Kirk, Bryan (April 17, 2012). "Segments of Grand Parkway are taking shape". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  18. ^ Begley, Dug (June 17, 2013). "Grand Parkway segment on pace for December opening". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  19. ^ a b c "West Houston Association". westhouston.org. Archived from the original on August 12, 2011.
  20. ^ "Archived copy". www.txdot.gov. Archived from the original on June 16, 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  21. ^ RAD SALLEE (June 3, 2007). "Fast lane sought for parkway plan". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved June 4, 2007.
  22. ^ a b "Grand Parkway, Cy-Fair – Community Impact Newspaper". Community Impact Newspaper.
  23. ^ a b "New section of Grand Parkway opens early". ABC13 Houston. February 6, 2016.
  24. ^ a b Work begins on Hwy. 249, Grand Parkway direct connectors in Tomball Community IMPACT Newspaper. April 20, 2020 (Retrieved August 9, 2020)
  25. ^ Begley, Dug. "Grand Parkway frontage roads open to ease flow around I-45". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved April 11, 2015.
  26. ^ "Hardy Toll Road goes EZ Tag only". KHOU 11 News.
  27. ^ "SH 99 Grand Parkway segments H and I-1 – US 59 North to I-10 East". www.txdot.gov. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  28. ^ Kevin Quinn (May 31, 2007). "Residents suffer from Grand Parkway growing pains". abc13.com. Retrieved June 1, 2007.
  29. ^ Betty L. Martin (May 23, 2007). "Parkway toll plan gets mixed reaction". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved June 1, 2007.
  30. ^ The Woodlands Report[dead link]
  31. ^ Progress on Grand Parkway moving slowly. John Tompkins, The Facts. November 12, 2006. Last accessed November 26, 2006.
  32. ^ "Grand Parkway". grandpky.com. Archived from the original on September 3, 2014.
  33. ^ a b c d e f g "Toll Roads".
  34. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Grand Parkway Map and Toll Rates (larger map)" (PDF). TxTag. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  35. ^ Magill, Jim (April 29, 2022). "Texas 249, Grand Parkway direct connectors expected to open in July". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  36. ^ Lotz, Anna (July 14, 2022). "Grand Parkway connectors to open July 16 weekend following main lane closures". Community Impact. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  37. ^ Wedding, Paul (July 20, 2021). "Two road projects underway to better connect City Place in Spring". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  38. ^ Google (December 2021). "Grand Pkwy - Porter, Texas". Google Street View. Retrieved February 19, 2022.

External links

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