by Nicole Bradford
Construction on a long-awaited expansion of Smith Ranch Road could be under construction as early as this fall.
The City Council on May 20 approved adding $9.4 million to the project budget, much of which will come from outside funding.
Since the project was approved in 2015, “inflation has impacted the budget,” City Manager Trent Epperson said. “It takes a lot of time to get these projects through the (Texas Department of Transportation) process and we’ve had a couple of issues dealing with funding.”
With approvals in place, the project is set to go to bid this summer, and construction could begin this fall, city officials said.
Plans call for widening Smith Ranch from a two-lane asphalt road into a four-lane, divided corridor with underground drainage, spanning from Hughes Ranch Road near the West Pearland Community Center to just north of Broadway, or FM 518. The project will include a 10-foot-wide shared-use path with pedestrian ramps and landscaping.
