The Conroe City Council has approved an advance funding agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation for a $1.7 million project to widen lanes near I-45 and North Loop 336, improving traffic flow and safety without incurring additional costs to local taxpayers.
In a meeting held on June 26, the Conroe City Council reached a unanimous decision to approve an advanced funding agreement (AFA) with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). This agreement paves the way for a long-anticipated project aimed at widening the existing lanes on both the east and west approaches to the bridge over I-45 near North Loop 336. City officials have announced that the project will include upgrades to traffic signals designed to enhance traffic flow and safety.
The $1.7 million initiative is entirely financed with federal funds designated by the Houston-Galveston Area Council and managed by TxDOT. At the meeting, Conroe Assistant City Administrator and Public Works Director Norman McGuire highlighted that the agreement solidifies the funding mechanism between the city and the state.
“The project is fully financed by the state … at no expense to our taxpayers,” McGuire stated.
The project, initially proposed by the city for regional funding, was previously removed from a prior Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). Now considered ready for the market, it can swiftly transition to the bidding stage, with construction expected to wrap up by mid-2026, McGuire noted.
The project is wholly funded, with the city obtaining $305,156 in transportation development credits from the Houston Community Development Corporation. The credits will cover any possible local match obligations, ensuring that the city will not incur any direct expenses, even in the event of cost overruns.
The meeting agenda outlines that the enhancements are part of Conroe’s continuous initiatives to upgrade infrastructure and safety along one of the city’s most heavily trafficked routes.
