Montgomery County Pct. 2 Commissioner Craig Doyal is anticipating that the last section of the FM 1488 expansion project will be finished by late summer. The last segment extends from FM 2978 to Mostyn Manor.

The project started more than two years ago with the expansion of FM 1488 between FM 2978 and SH 242. The most recent completion was the section of FM 1488 between SH 242 and Interstate 45. The expansion has widened FM 1488 to five lanes: two continuous lanes on either side and a center turn lane.

Pictured is Craig Doyal speaking at the Magnolia Rotary Club meeting Jan. 4 where he updated members about transportation projections in Magnolia and surrounding areas.

According to Doyal, the project was able to begin about eight years ahead of when the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) had scheduled the expansion, because of a “pass-through” bond approved by county voters in 2005. The bond enables the county to fund the project and TxDOT to reimburse the county at a later date.

The first payment is scheduled for 14 years after the first project is completed, which means Montgomery County will see reimbursements for widening of the section between FM 2978 and SH 242 in 2025.

Doyal also stated that TxDOT pays the county back according to traffic costs, which means cost of vehicle per mile. There will be a minimum and maximum established for the rate of reimbursement.

The expansion project ends at Mostyn Manor, Doyal said, because TxDOT had hoped to build an overpass crossing FM 149. However, TxDOT recently changed its plans and is seeking funding to simply widen FM 1488 between Mostyn Manor and FM 149.

“The overpass is too much to hope for right now,” Doyal said.

Doyal said the partnership between TxDOT and Montgomery County has benefited both parties.

“So far it has been great. We get today’s cost and TxDOT can pay it back over time,” he said.

There were advanced discussions on widening FM 1774, but those plans have stagnated.

TxDOT is still working to obtain funding for the widening of FM 1774 from Friendship Drive to FM 1488.

TxDOT also recently finished repaving Nichols Sawmill and aims to repave Hardin Store road once funding is available.

At last week’s meeting of the Magnolia Rotary Club, Doyal announced that the Fish Creek Road thoroughfare should be completed by February, creating a road from SH 105 to FM 2854 and continuing on to FM 1488.

“That is a huge deal in case of a storm,” he said.

In addition to those projects, Doyal said the Westwood Parkway Improvement District is in the process of obtaining land to connect Research Forest Drive to Egypt Lane.

While the county attempts to purchase right-of-way for the continuation of Woodlands Parkway between FM 2978 and SH 249, it also has plans to continue constrction on Kuykendahl and Alden Bridge through to FM 1488. Doyal said an H.E.B. grocery store is in the works for the Kuykendahl and FM 1488 area.

“It’s amazing what has happened in that FM 2978 and FM 1488 area,” he said.

Doyal said TxDOT funding has become limited so working with neighboring communities such as Westwood to get projects like Research Forest Drive completed “makes sense.”

“We are continuing to try to attract more commercial growth to the community,” Doyal said. “It’s good to see Magnolia Economic Development trying to promote business in Magnolia.”

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