by Nicole Bradford
A planned widening of Mykawa Road from FM 518 to Beltway 8 is slowly moving toward a construction date, but Pearland leaders are keeping a watchful eye on what is happening farther north.
The city has requested that the Houston-Galveston Area Council study the corridor to the north in relation to Telephone Road-Highway 35.
“There has been an on again, off again project by TxDOT to do a freeway Spur 5 from downtown 45 near U of H coming down Mykawa — we’ve managed to stop that at (Loop) 610,” said Mayor Kevin Cole, who serves on the Houston-Galveston Area Council’s Transportation Policy Council. “That project has been let, and you’ll see construction on the far north end of that soon.”
“At some point,” Cole told council members on March 25, “it would be appropriate for us to have a resolution so we can once and for all let TxDOT know we do not intend to have a freeway section come through our Old Townsite,” he said.
The widening project from FM 518 to the Beltway calls for a four-lane, divided road to relieve congestion and improve safety.
Since the project spans two counties, Pearland City Council at the March 25 meeting approved an updated agreement to share design and construction costs with the state.
“These projects where we get state and federal funding typically take a long time to develop,” City Manager Trent Epperson said. “It’s a completely local road but getting (80-20 match) percentage paid for with federal and state funds is a huge way to leverage our local funds,” Epperson said.
Pearland Parkway, 518 intersection
The council on March 25 approved an agreement with TxDOT for improvements to the Pearland Parkway and FM 518 intersection.
Added will be right turn lanes both northbound and southbound on Pearland Parkway and a double left turn lane to decrease congestion.
