For Fort Bend County Precinct 1 residents who spend part of nearly every day navigating construction, school traffic and rapidly changing roads, the county’s latest mobility update offers a wide-ranging look at what is coming next.

Projects stretching from the Grand Parkway and Cinco Ranch to Fulshear, Simonton and other parts of Precinct 1 are moving through design, right-of-way acquisition, utility relocation and construction. Some improvements are already visible on the ground. Others are still several steps away from the orange cones residents will eventually see.

The latest project reports dated August 18, 2096 and posted through the office of Fort Bend County Precinct 1 Commissioner Vincent Morales Jr. cover projects funded through multiple county mobility bond programs, including major roadway reconstruction, new and widened roads, traffic signals, pedestrian connections and Grand Parkway frontage road improvements. 

Together, the updates illustrate something residents across western Fort Bend County already know firsthand: transportation infrastructure is trying to keep pace with communities that continue to add homes, schools, businesses and daily traffic.

Grand Parkway Projects Take a Major Step Toward Construction

Some of the most significant movement involves the Grand Parkway, or SH 99, through the Cinco Ranch and Katy area.

Fort Bend County’s Aug. 18 update shows multiple frontage road and main-lane projects advancing between Fry Road, Westheimer Parkway, Cinco Ranch Boulevard and Bay Hill Boulevard. Two major construction packages received bids in August.

For the frontage road improvements between Fry Road and Westheimer Parkway, James Construction Group submitted the apparent low bid of approximately $32.7 million, below the engineer’s estimate. The company also submitted the apparent low bid of approximately $26 million for another package involving northbound frontage road work between Westheimer Parkway, Cinco Ranch Boulevard and Bay Hill Boulevard.

Those projects are part of a broader Grand Parkway program that includes:

• southbound frontage road improvements from Bay Hill Boulevard to Cinco Ranch Boulevard;
• northbound frontage road improvements from Cinco Ranch Boulevard to Bay Hill Boulevard;
• northbound frontage road improvements from Westheimer Parkway to Cinco Ranch Boulevard;
• northbound and southbound frontage road improvements between Fry Road and Westheimer Parkway; and
• widening of Grand Parkway main-lane structures over Bay Hill Boulevard and Cinco Ranch Boulevard.

Utility relocations are also progressing ahead of construction. CenterPoint, Comcast, Astound, Consolidated Communications, Cinco Ranch MUD 1, Grand Lakes MUD 1 and MCI/Verizon are among the utilities involved along various portions of the corridor.

That work may not attract the same attention as new pavement, but moving gas, fiber, water and other infrastructure out of a future roadway footprint is often one of the steps that has to happen before major construction can proceed.

Grand Parkway Sidewalks Gradually Reopening

Pedestrians are seeing progress, too.

Sidewalks at Fry Road, Buffalo Bayou and Westheimer Parkway were listed as open in the Aug. 18 Grand Parkway report. Work was also complete in areas near Cinco Ranch Boulevard and Bay Hill Boulevard/Highland Knolls, although portions had been temporarily affected by construction.

At Kingsland Boulevard, sidewalks on the eastbound and westbound sides remained partially closed while cleanup and brick-paver work continued. The county anticipated reopening that area around mid-September.

Noise-wall planning is moving along at the same time. Six workshops had been completed with favorable resident votes involving Seven Meadows, Grand Lakes east of SH 99 and several sections of Cinco Ranch along the Grand Parkway corridor. Additional coordination was planned for Grand Lakes, Willow Fork Park and Falcon Point.

For homeowners living closest to SH 99, those discussions can be just as consequential as the roadway construction itself because noise barriers directly affect properties bordering the expanded corridor.

Greenbusch Road Construction Delayed by Utility Conflict

Another project residents are already experiencing is Greenbusch Road from Gaston Road to Westheimer Parkway.

The project replaces the existing two-lane asphalt roadway and deep ditches with a two-lane concrete road, storm sewer system and new bridge. The approximately $8.4 million construction contract also includes a traffic signal at Spring Green Boulevard/Pine Mill Ranch Drive, which is already operational.

Construction, however, has encountered a utility issue.

A CenterPoint gas line and water service connections conflict with the storm sewer work, according to the county update. Gas-line relocation was expected to be completed in early September, after which the roadway contractor can remobilize.

The project began construction in January 2025, and its current completion target is February 2027.

For residents who use Greenbusch as an east-west connection through the Katy area, that means construction will remain part of the commute for some time.

Huggins Road Is Open, but Intersection Work Remains

Nearby in Fulshear, the Huggins Drive improvement project between FM 359 and Katy Fulshear Road has reached an important milestone.

The roadway is open and construction is substantially complete.

The approximately $6.6 million project includes a three-lane concrete roadway along with water and sanitary sewer work. A second phase will add a northbound right-turn lane and southbound left-turn lane at FM 359.

Kinder Morgan has completed a required pipeline adjustment, while the remaining pavement over the pipeline easement is expected to be completed by the City of Fulshear. Phase 2 design is complete and has been submitted to the Texas Department of Transportation for permitting.

Two New Fulshear-Area Traffic Signals Moving Toward Construction

Traffic signals are also moving forward at Candela Heights Drive and FM 359 and Fulshear Gaston Road and FM 359.

County project reports recommend awarding the combined work to Traf-Tex for approximately $667,330, about 4% below the engineer’s estimate.

Coordination with TxDOT and CenterPoint remains part of the process.

The signals could become increasingly important as residential development continues around FM 359, Fulshear Gaston Road and the Candela area.

Cinco Ranch Boulevard Signal Will Move Forward

Closer to Cinco Ranch, the planned traffic signal at Cinco Ranch Boulevard and Falcon Landing Boulevard is expected to move forward.

Commissioners Court awarded the construction contract in February, but the notice to proceed has been delayed by long lead times for signal components. The county currently anticipates completion by November 2026.

The report also addresses an issue that has drawn resident attention.

Although some residents requested that signals not be installed, the county says the Falcon Landing Boulevard intersection meets traffic-signal warrants and the project will proceed. A separate signal designed for Cinco Ranch Boulevard at Cinco Terrace Drive will not be constructed at this time.

Wallis Street and Bowser Road Approach Final Design

Two long-running mobility projects west of the Katy area are also advancing.

On Wallis Street between FM 1093 and FM 359, the county expected a pre-100% design submission by Sept. 17. Of 36 parcels involved in right-of-way acquisition, 33 had closed as of the Aug. 18 report, with three in eminent-domain proceedings.

The project also involves proposed detention, utility, sidewalk and decorative lighting improvements being coordinated with the city.

Those additional elements total approximately $1.985 million, including about $873,800 associated with detention, $258,500 for utility upsizing, $342,600 for sidewalks and $510,100 for decorative illumination.

On Bowser Road between Winding Stream Drive and Pool Hill Road, 35 of 39 parcels had closed. A revised 95% design submission was received Aug. 12, while drainage and TxDOT permitting work continues.

Fulshear Gaston Road Continues Through Two Design Phases

The county is also advancing both phases of Fulshear Gaston Road.

For Phase 1, pedestrian crossings are being coordinated at Candela Heights Boulevard, with MUD 142 willing to contribute $100,000. Right-of-way work continues, while final design comments — including preliminary traffic signal plans — have been returned to the engineering consultant.

Phase 2 remains in design and TxDOT permitting. An existing North Fort Bend Water Authority easement will have to be reestablished or the roadway cross-section could require modification.

These projects are part of a broader transportation network developing around FM 723, FM 359 and the rapidly growing Fulshear area.

Settegast Ranch and Rogers Road Projects Plan for Future Growth

Two segments of Settegast Ranch Road are also taking shape.

Segment 1 would upgrade the existing two-lane asphalt road to a full boulevard with storm sewer infrastructure within a 100-foot right-of-way. Engineers are evaluating a roundabout and a revised drainage report.

Segment 2 would create a new two-lane roadway with ditches north of the cemetery. Its alignment was shifted approximately 20 feet away from a fence, and the revised location was shared with cemetery representatives without objection. A 70% design submission was scheduled for Sept. 18.

Farther west, Rogers Road Segments 1 and 2 are planned as upgrades from a two-lane asphalt roadway to a four-lane boulevard.

Drainage is playing an important role in those designs. Engineers are studying the Brookshire Creek watershed and available detention capacity associated with Fulshear Lake before Segment 2 progresses further.

School Growth Is Influencing Pool Hill Road Planning

One of the clearest examples of transportation and school growth intersecting can be found along Pool Hill Road.

Three segments are being designed between Hunt Road, Rogers Road and FM 1093.

For Pool Hill Road Segment 3, the county says the project needs to be positioned as the first of the three to bid when possible because of the proposed schedule for a future Lamar Consolidated Independent School District campus expected to open in August 2029.

Right-of-way documentation was expected in early September, with 70% plans targeted for late October.

Segment 2 also requires drainage coordination with the future LCISD campus, while Segment 1 is progressing toward 70% design plans in October.

For families watching the continuing expansion of schools and subdivisions west of Fulshear, it is a reminder that road planning increasingly has to anticipate where tomorrow’s school traffic will be — not simply where congestion exists today.

Skinner Lane Designs Address Drainage, Homes and School Traffic

The county’s four-part Skinner Lane program is similarly moving through design.

Segment 1, beginning at West Bellfort, is expected to reach 70% design in late October after minor alignment revisions.

For Segment 3, engineers adjusted the alignment to create additional separation from existing buildings and homes. Right-of-way work is expected to follow.

Segment 4 currently includes a roundabout designed in part to resolve a wetlands conflict and roadway connection issue. Engineers are also reviewing new school traffic patterns to maximize vehicle storage and improve safety during student pickup and drop-off.

A separate Segment 2 project is addressing drainage and utility coordination for the corridor.

Hunt Road and Fulshear Bend Drive Continue Through Design

All three Hunt Road segments are advancing as well.

Segment 1 is expected to reach 70% design in November, with needed property anticipated to be donated or dedicated by developers.

Segment 2 is being coordinated with a TxDOT bridge replacement currently expected to be let in April 2027.

For Segment 3, a revised roundabout layout has been approved, and engineers were preparing a 70% submission while making a drainage adjustment associated with a developer’s proposed pond.

On Fulshear Bend Drive from Woods Road to FM 359, the Fort Bend County Drainage District has provided preliminary approval of the drainage report, with 70% plans expected in late October. The design also accounts for a proposed City of Fulshear lift station.

Sidewalk Program Targets Gaps Across Precinct 1

Not every mobility project involves expanding a road.

Fort Bend County’s Precinct 1 Sidewalk Improvements program is studying multiple locations where pedestrian connections can be improved.

Sites currently include:

• South Peek Road;
• South Mason Road;
• Gaston Road;
• Highland Knolls Drive; and
• Katy Gaston Road.

At Gaston Road, the Grayson Lakes neighborhood has requested an extension that could add more than a mile of sidewalk between Roesner Road and Ephram Road.

At Katy Gaston Road, Precinct 1 has requested that another small missing sidewalk section be incorporated into the plans.

For residents, these smaller projects can have an outsized effect. A sidewalk gap of only a few hundred feet can be the difference between a continuous walking route and forcing pedestrians toward traffic.

Mason Road and Falcon Landing Safety Improvements Advance

A southbound right-turn lane is being designed on Mason Road at Westpark, while related traffic-signal and pedestrian improvements are planned at Shadow Forest and Westheimer Parkway.

The Shadow Forest project includes extending sidewalk from the neighborhood to the intersection and adding pedestrian elements to the new signal.

On Falcon Landing Boulevard, plans call for widening the westbound pavement within the median to create a dedicated right-turn lane into Rowling Oaks Boulevard. No additional right-of-way is expected to be required.

Boothill Bypass Work Begins in Simonton

In Simonton, the Boothill Bypass has moved into construction activity.

Fort Bend County Road and Bridge crews had cleared the right-of-way and were performing vegetation control as of the Aug. 18 report.

The update is brief, but it marks the transition from planning to visible work on the ground for the project.

Mobility Projects Also Continue in Other Parts of Precinct 1

The county’s current program extends beyond the Katy-Fulshear growth corridor.

Humphrey Way is continuing from preliminary engineering into design, with right-of-way mapping and acquisition preparation underway. A meeting with Fort Bend County Engineering is scheduled for Sept. 15.

Bates Allen Heritage Drive, formerly identified as Charlie Roberts Lane, would extend south from Lum Road to the Bates Allen Park entrance. The right-of-way layout has been finalized and 70% design work continues.

In Kendleton, the 1st Street project would construct a new 24-foot roadway between FM 2919 and Crawford Street, using asphalt from FM 2919 to Lawson Street and concrete from Lawson to Crawford Street. Drainage, detention and right-of-way coordination remain underway, including additional investigation because of inconsistent property boundary records.

Ginter Library Access Nears Completion

Another project approaching the finish line is the Ginter Library Access Road.

The project has been developed in multiple phases in partnership with landowner Dr. Glen Ginter, who donated land where the Fort Bend County library was built.

Utilities and initial access work are complete, while the remaining pavement and utility phase is nearly finished. A final phase would construct a right-turn lane from FM 1093 onto Ginter Boulevard.

TxDOT approvals for that work have been executed, and the county reported that the current contractor could potentially complete the turn lane through a change order.

What Fort Bend County Precinct 1 Residents Should Watch Next

The August update does not point to one single transformation happening overnight. Instead, it shows dozens of pieces of the transportation network moving at different speeds.

Some projects are waiting on utilities. Others need property acquisition, drainage approvals or TxDOT permits. Several are approaching final design. Major Grand Parkway projects are moving closer to construction, while school growth is already shaping roads that may not be built for several years.

The county reported no additional projects scheduled to bid during the following month in several of its project groups, meaning much of the near-term work will remain focused on advancing design, right-of-way, permitting and projects already under contract.

For residents, the practical takeaway is that significant transportation work remains ahead across Precinct 1 — particularly around Grand Parkway, Cinco Ranch, Fulshear, FM 359, FM 1093, Pool Hill Road, Hunt Road and rapidly developing areas west of Katy.

Those improvements will not eliminate the growing pains that come with one of the region’s busiest development corridors. But taken together, they show how Fort Bend County is attempting to build connections for the neighborhoods, schools and traffic patterns already arriving.

My Neighborhood News will continue following these Fort Bend County Precinct 1 mobility projects as they move from engineering plans and right-of-way acquisition to construction — and eventually to the roads, signals and sidewalks residents use every day.

By Tiffany Krenek, My Neighborhood News 

Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.