Drivers in Montgomery County are no strangers to traffic. Now, a new bridge will help off-load some of the cars from I-45.
Texas Department of Transportation workers are hammering away, literally laying the foundation for a new bridge that will help de-clog that notorious I-45 traffic. "This is going to allow people to go all the way from tomball to Conroe without getting on IH-45 and having to fight all the traffic over there," Richard Brown, a TxDOT engineer explained to us.
The new bridge connects FM-2920 to SH-105, which will cut down the drive time for folks like Stephanie Walker who lives in Conroe. "I was going to have to drive straight down this road, take a left, drive 20 more miles so, if this connects straight to Tomball, this is going to be great for me," she explained.
When the bridge is finished, drivers will be able to bypass FM-2854 and the railroad tracks. The bridge connects Fish Creek Thoroughfare to McCaleb Road. It's a shortcut which aims to improve traffic flow and safety. "By going both over the railroad tracks and the road you don't have to go through the light," Brown explained.
Not everyone is excited about the bridge opening, though. Some drivers are afraid the new thoroughfare will actually encourage traffic. "It seems like there is a lot more traffic coming through, and I am afraid there's going to be more when this bridge actually gets built," driver Katie Manescalo told us.
Bridge construction started early last year. Engineers say it's a constant battle to keep the roads ready for the booming population, that will use this thoroughfare. "Traffic is about 2300 cars a day... it's projected to go up to about 3200 in about 20 years," Brown explained. Most drivers we spoke with are looking forward to trying the new route, when the bridge opens in about a month.
