Montgomery Co. Advances $221M Conroe Road Extension

**Montgomery County Greenlights Key Design Phase for $221 Million Old Conroe Road Bypass**

**CONROE, Texas – May 21, 2024** – Montgomery County is forging ahead with the ambitious $221 million extension of Old Conroe Road, a project long anticipated to significantly ease traffic congestion in and around downtown Conroe. The latest move occurred on May 14th, when the Montgomery County Commissioners Court approved a crucial $1.7 million amendment to a design services contract with Halff Associates, bringing the total design contract for the project to $4.5 million.

This substantial investment will fund the creation of approximately 4.5 miles of new roadway, effectively establishing a vital north-south bypass around the bustling heart of downtown Conroe. The current Old Conroe Road stretches from FM 2854 down to I-45, but this extension will expand it northward, connecting FM 2854 all the way to Loop 336.

Precinct 1 Commissioner Robert Walker emphasized the project’s primary goal: to alleviate the notorious traffic snarls that plague downtown, particularly during large-scale events at the Lone Star Convention & Expo Center and the Montgomery County Fairgrounds. “This extension will provide a much-needed alternative for residents and visitors trying to navigate the area without battling the perpetual congestion at the I-45 and State Highway 105 intersection,” Walker stated. “It’s about improving quality of life and facilitating smoother movement throughout our county.”

County Engineer Damian Panagopoulos detailed the technical specifications, explaining that the new roadway will be a four-lane, divided parkway. This design necessitates a 150-foot right-of-way, a significant undertaking for the county.

Looking ahead, the county anticipates initiating the complex process of right-of-way acquisition this fall. If the timeline holds, construction on the new extension is projected to commence in 2026 and is expected to span three to four years until completion.

The funding for this monumental infrastructure project primarily stems from the successful 2022 road bond. Additionally, the project is structured as a “pass-through financing” deal with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). This innovative arrangement means that while Montgomery County will fund the initial construction, TxDOT will subsequently reimburse the county for the construction costs once the project is finished, ensuring state support for this critical local improvement.

The Old Conroe Road extension is expected to be a game-changer for Montgomery County, supporting its rapid growth and significantly enhancing regional connectivity by offering a direct, high-capacity route that bypasses a historically bottlenecked urban core.