HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — The Texas Department of Transportation expects to break ground on a major expansion of State Highway 99 between the Katy freeway and US-290 in mid-2026.<\/p>\n
The expansion is the result of an agreement made more than 15 years ago, and now is the time for you to offer feedback on the plans.<\/p>\n
TxDOT says during the peak evening drive, data shows speed decreases from posted speeds of about 65 miles per hour to around 30 miles per hour along the segment from the I-10 Katy to US-290.<\/p>\n
As a result, TxDOT plans to expand State Highway 99 from two lanes northbound and southbound to three lanes in each direction.<\/p>\n
This idea is not new; according to TxDOT spokesperson Leo Flores, the potential expansion was agreed upon in 2009.<\/p>\n
“TxDOT made an agreement with the seven counties that make up the Grand Parkway Corporation, and as a part of that agreement, there was to be maintained a certain level of service,” Flores said.<\/p>\n
That was the focus of a recent public meeting in the Katy area: to allow the community to see the plans and ask questions.<\/p>\n
“There’s more people moving in. At some point, they’re going to have to build even more roads, or they’re going to be congested again,” driver Shevon Edwards told ABC13.<\/p>\n
Driver Erin Williford is concerned about the interchanges near this stretch of SH-99 and whether those interchanges can handle the added traffic volume.<\/p>\n
“I catch myself wanting to leave much earlier than normal in order to beat the traffic, and so my hope is that this opens it up a little bit more and it provides just sort of some free flow for the rest of us,” Williford said.<\/p>\n
The expansion will happen in the TxDOT right of way, not requiring residents or businesses to move. With so much construction, TxDOT acknowledges, people also want to know about drainage. TxDOT says the possibility of widening was considered when the project was built.<\/p>\n
“So there’s no need for new facilities like detention ponds and things like that. However, we will improve the existing infrastructure with more inlets on the main lanes and more dredging for the ditches for increased capacity,” Flores said.<\/p>\n
Sound barriers are proposed for two locations: near the Waterstone subdivision and adjacent to the San Paseo Apartments.<\/p>\n
TxDOT plans for construction to begin in mid-2026 and finish by the end of 2030.<\/p>\n
TxDOT says the $157 million project will be paid for through toll revenue funds.<\/p>\n
If you’d like to see TxDOT’s presentation and offer feedback to the agency yourself, there’s more information in this presentation from the virtual meeting: SH 99 Improvements (Segment E) from I-10 West to US 290 virtual public meeting<\/a><\/p>\n For news updates, follow Elissa Rivas on Facebook<\/a>, X<\/a> and Instagram<\/a>. <\/p>\n Copyright \u00a9 2025 KTRK-TV. All Rights Reserved.<\/p>\n