Texas State Highway 249

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State Highway 249 marker x70px

State Highway 249
Template:Maplink-road
SH 249 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by TxDOT, HCTRA, and MCTRA
Length: 49.443 mi[1] (79.571 km)
Existed: 1988 – present
Component
highways:
  • West Mount Houston Road from I-45 to West Montgomery Road
  • Tomball Parkway from West Montgomery Road to Spring Cypress Road
  • Tomball Tollway from Spring Cypress Road to Harris-Montgomery County line
  • MCTRA 249 Tollway from Harris-Montgomery County Line to FM 1774
  • Aggie Expressway from FM 1774 to SH 105
Major junctions
South end: I-45 in Houston
  Beltway 8 / Sam Houston Tollway
SH 99 Toll in Tomball
FM 1488 east of Magnolia
FM 1774 north of Todd Mission
North end: SH 105 near Navasota
Location
Counties: Harris, Montgomery, Grimes
Highway system
← SH 248 SH 250 →

State Highway 249 (SH 249), also known depending on its location as West Mount Houston Road, the Tomball Parkway, Tomball Tollway, MCTRA 249 Tollway, or the Aggie Expressway, is a 49.443-mile (79.571 km) generally north–south highway in Southeast Texas. The southern terminus is in North Houston at Interstate 45 (I-45). The current northern terminus of the highway is east of Navasota at SH 105.

Route description

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West Mount Houston Road section

File:Westbound Zion Road at Texas State Highway 249.jpg
Westbound Zion Road at State Highway 249. Tomball Tollway is maintained by HCTRA, while the 249 Tollway is maintained by MCTRA. SH 249 is signed only on the frontage roads.

The section of SH 249 along the east-west section between I-45 and West Montgomery is called West Mount Houston Road, a local arterial road. West Mount Houston Road, however, actually extends east past the intersection of SH 249 at I-45 to an intersection with Airline Drive.

Tomball Parkway section

The section of SH 249 between West Montgomery Road and Spring Cypress Road is called Tomball Parkway. South of its intersection with Hollister Road, Tomball Parkway is a local arterial road, whereas north of it, it becomes a non-tolled freeway.

Tomball Tollway section

Phase I

Phase one runs for 6 miles (9.7 km) from just north of Spring Cypress Road, the current terminus of the existing free lanes to just north of the existing Tomball bypass. The Tomball Tollway is three lanes in each direction that are used to bypass seven stoplights and will only accept electronic toll-tags (EZ Tag, TollTag and TxTag) as no cash payments will be allowed; the total cost of the toll for HCTRA's segment is $1.50 for two-axle vehicles, while the SH 249 frontage roads will remain free to all drivers.[2][3] Construction of phase one began in fall 2013 and was completed on April 12, 2015.[4]

Phase II

Phase two extends the tollway into Montgomery County from Business SH 249-B to Sentinel Oaks in Montgomery County north of Spring Creek. This $335 million project was overseen by the Harris and Montgomery County toll road authorities.[5] Construction on Phase 2 commenced in fall 2016 and was opened to traffic on December 19, 2019.[6]

MCTRA 249 Tollway section

From Spring Creek to FM 1774 in Pinehurst, the tolled mainlanes of SH 249 will be maintained by the Montgomery County Toll Road Authority.[7] Signed as MCTRA 249 Tollway, the first section to open was between Spring Creek and Sentinel Oaks (coinciding with Phase two of the HCTRA segment) on December 19, 2019. Construction on the next segment of MCTRA 249 Tollway from Sentinel Oaks to FM 1774 commenced in spring 2018.[6] The next section of MCTRA 249 Tollway opened from Sentinel Oaks to Woodtrace Boulevard on March 26, 2020. The remaining MCTRA segment connecting to the TxDOT maintained section north of Woodtrace Boulevard opened on August 8, 2020.[8][9] The total cost of the toll for MCTRA's segment is $1.25 for two-axle vehicles and, like HCTRA's Tomball Tollway, will only accept electronic toll-tags (EZ Tag, TollTag and TxTag).[10]

Aggie Expressway section

Segment 1A

From FM 1774 in Pinehurst to FM 1488 east of Magnolia, the toll road continues as SH 249 Toll, also known as the Aggie Expressway. The tolled mainlanes of Section 1A are maintained by TxDOT and were opened on August 8, 2020, with no tolls charged until December 2020. Unlike the HCTRA and MCTRA sections of the toll road, TxDOT allows a pay-by-mail option for all users in addition to EZ Tag, TollTag and TxTag.

Segment 1B

Another eight miles of the Aggie Expressway from FM 1488 up to FM 1774 north Todd Mission opened to traffic on March 26, 2021. The current cost to drive the entire TxDOT section is $2.28 for two-axle vehicles, which took effect on the day of the latest segment to open.[11][12][13][14]

Segment 2

The final segment of SH 249, Segment 2 of the Aggie Expressway began construction in late 2018 and was opened to all traffic on October 28, 2022. It stretches from FM 1774 near Todd Mission to SH 105 east of Navasota.[15][16]

History

Originally a part of FM 149, the highway was given the designation of SH 249 in 1988.[1] The highway's importance grew after Compaq (later purchased by Hewlett-Packard) moved its headquarters close to the intersection of SH 249 and Louetta Rd.[17] In 2003, a portion of SH 249 in Tomball was renamed Business SH 249B from Hicks Road to Holderreith Road. This is because of bypass that bypasses Tomball on the west side of the city. In 2015, SH 249 was extended northwest 24.4 miles from FM 149 and FM 1774 to SH 105 near Stoneham. A section of SH 249 from Woodtrace Boulevard to FM 149 was renumbered as a southern extension of FM 1774 in December 2019.[18] On June 25, 2020, the FM 1774 extension was modified so that it extended only over the frontage roads of SH 249 from FM 149 to Woodtrace Boulevard while the main lanes from Woodtrace Boulevard to FM 1774 and on to SH 105 retained the SH 249 designation. On August 8, 2020, the section of SH 249 from FM 1774 to FM 1488 was opened. On March 26, 2021, the section of SH 249 from FM 1488 to FM 1774 was opened.

Previously, SH 249 was designated on June 22, 1937[19] from then-SH 73 (now Interstate 10) near San Felipe north to the Brazos River. The route was redesignated on May 9, 1940, as Texas Spur 99.[20] The route became part of Farm to Market Road 1458 on January 20, 1966.

Since the designation of SH 249, TxDOT had long-term plans to extend the highway to Grimes County. Continued growth in the Bryan/College Station, Conroe and northwest Houston regions have congested existing roadways, including SH 105 and FM 1774. Texas A&M University and businesses in the Bryan/College Station area would benefit from faster connections to Bush-Intercontinental Airport, the Port of Houston and the Texas Medical Center. A bypass of Magnolia, Texas was desirable because of the large traffic load every October due to the annual Renaissance fair. Decreased funding for road projects in recent years had stalled the extension of SH 249. However the rapid growth in the area has led to a renewed push in 2012 to build further segments.

Plans for the middle segments (Pinehurst-Todd Mission) and north segment (Todd Mission-Navasota) were revived by the Texas Department of Transportation in early 2013. TxDOT has formed a working group with local officials and stakeholders to discuss alternatives for the SH 249 corridor.[21][22][23] The segment from Sentinel Oaks to FM 1774 in Pinehurst (maintained by MCTRA) opened in spring 2020.[9] From FM 1774 in Pinehurst, north up to SH 105 in Grimes County, SH 249 was under the jurisdiction of TxDOT. The remaining portion of SH 249 in Montgomery County from FM 1488 to FM 1774 in Todd Mission was competed on March 26, 2021.[24][25] In Grimes County, the north segment was constructed as a non-tolled two-lane freeway.[26] Construction in Grimes County began in late 2018 and was completed in October 2022.[27][28][16]

Popular culture

The country music group Eli Young Band references "Highway 249" in their 2008 single "Always the Love Songs." Several of the band members[which?] grew up in Tomball.[citation needed]

Major intersections

All exits are unnumbered.

County Location mi km Destinations Notes
Harris Houston West Mount Houston Road Continuation east of I-45
I-45 (North Freeway) – Dallas, Downtown Houston I-45 exit 57B
Beltway 8 (Frontage Road) / Sam Houston Tollway interchange; south end of freeway; southbound traffic has two direct ramps to westbound and eastbound Sam Houston Tollway
Greens Road / Gessner Road Gessner Road signed northbound only
FM 1960 / Invalid type: road Access to Methodist Hospital Willowbrook;
Gessner Road signed southbound only
Grant Road / Schroeder Road / Perry Road
Cypresswood Drive / Compaq Center Drive Compaq Center Drive signed northbound only
Chasewood Park Drive / Compaq Center Drive / Cypresswood Drive / Perry Road Access to CHI St. Luke's Health - The Vintage Hospital;
Cypresswood Drive and Perry Road are signed southbound only
Louetta Road / Jones Road
​ Spring-Cypress Road
​ SH 249 (Frontage Road) / Invalid type: road Last free northbound exit before entering the Tomball Tollway[29]
​ Tomball Tollway begins Southern terminus of the Tomball Tollway[29]
​ Tomball Tollway Mainlane Toll Plaza[30]
Electronic toll tags only, no cash allowed
​ SH 99 Toll (Grand Parkway) – Katy, Spring Direct ramps to east and westbound Grand Parkway (SH 99) from northbound Tomball Tollway
Tomball
Bus. SH 249 north (Tomball Parkway) / Holderrieth Road / Alice Road		 Southern terminus of Bus. SH 249[31]

FM 2920 / Bus. SH 249 south (Tomball Parkway) – Tomball, Hooks Airport / Alice Road		 Northern terminus of Bus. SH 249[31][not in citation given]
Brown Road / Baker Road / Zion Road Access to Lone Star College-Tomball campus
Harris–Montgomery
county line		 ​ Tomball Tollway ends
MCTRA 249 Tollway begins		 Northern terminus of HCTRA's Tomball Tollway;
southern terminus of MCTRA 249 Tollway[29]
Montgomery ​ Decker Prairie Road / Hardin Store Road [32]
​ Decker Prairie Tolling Zone[33]
Electronic toll tags only; cash and pay-by-mail not allowed.
​ FM 1774 north – Magnolia - Woodtrace Boulevard Southern terminus of FM 1774 (not signed southbound);[32] last southbound exit for traffic paying by mail.
​ MCTRA 249 Tollway ends
SH 249 Toll begins		 Northern terminus of MCTRA 249 Tollway;
southern terminus of SH 249 Toll (Aggie Expressway)[29]
​ FM 149 – Montgomery [34]
​ Mainlane Toll Gantry North of FM 149[35]
Electronic toll tags or pay-by-mail (cash not accepted)[12][13]
​ Audubon Boulevard Road not connected yet[36]
​ FM 1488 – Hempstead, Magnolia, The Woodlands, Conroe
​ FM 1488 west (Magnolia Relief Route) – Hempstead Proposed exit; eastern terminus of proposed Magnolia Relief Route[37]
​ Jackson Road Proposed exit; would connect to FM 149 northeast of Magnolia[38]
​ FM 1486 – Magnolia, Dobbin
​ Mainlane Toll Gantry North of CR 115[35]
Electronic toll tags or pay-by-mail (cash not accepted)
Grimes Todd Mission FM 1774 – Magnolia, Todd Mission, Plantersville Northbound terminus of toll road and start of two-lane freeway; last free southbound exit before start of toll road[34][39]
SH 249 Toll ends
SH 249 begins		 Northern terminus of SH 249 Toll;
Aggie Expressway continues as SH 249 without tolls
​ CR 304 [39][26]
​ CR 306 to SH 105 east – Conroe Northbound exit and southbound entrance; provides access to eastbound SH 105 via CR 306 west and FM 1748 north[39][26]
​ SH 105 west – Navasota Northern terminus of SH 249; no exit to SH 105 east[39][26]
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ HCTRA System Map www.hctra.org
  8. ↑ New Hwy. 249 tolled lanes open in Pinehurst Community IMPACT Newspaper
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ [1] Montgomery County Toll Road Authority (MCTRA) SH 249 Retrieved May 8, 2020
  11. ↑ First stretch of ‘Aggie Expressway’ toll road opens Saturday Houston Chronicle. August 8, 2020 (same-day retrieval)
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 SH-249 Expansion: A faster route to get to Aggieland is on the way Click2Houston.com (KPRC-TV). September 15, 2020 (Retrieved September 17, 2020)
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Drivers to pay tolls on Hwy. 249 beginning Dec. 1 Community IMPACT Newspaper. November 19, 2020 (Retrieved November 21, 2020)
  14. ↑ New segment of 'Aggie Expressway' toll road opens along Texas 249 Houston Chronicle, March 29, 2021 (Retrieved March 30, 2021)
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ New Hwy. 249 segment from FM 1488 to FM 1774 in Todd Mission now open Community IMPACT Newspaper', March 30, 2021 (Same-day retrieval)'
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 26.3 SH 249 - Todd Mission to Navasota (Schematics) Texas Department of Transportation. October 2, 2019 (Retrieved August 16, 2020)
  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  36. ↑ State Of the City - City of Magnolia Update - Winter 2020 (Page #51 of #54) Retrieved August 22, 2020
  37. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  38. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 39.2 39.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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