The Highway 242 widening project between FM 1488 and Interstate 45 has hit 71 percent completion as of late January. Montgomery County transportation planners have wanted this project for years, and drivers who sit in 242 traffic every morning already know why.
The wider road will add lanes in both directions, fix drainage issues, and redesign several intersections. Crews have been building in phases to keep traffic moving, but lane closures and detours are still a daily headache for commuters.
The target is fourth quarter 2026 for completion, and officials say they're on schedule unless bad weather or supply problems slow things down. When it's done, the drive from FM 1488 to I-45 should be noticeably faster for anyone in The Woodlands, Oak Ridge North, or the surrounding areas.
More road work is coming, too. Turn lane extensions at Lake Woodlands Drive and Gosling Road should start early this year, and similar work at Woodlands Parkway and Kuykendahl is planned for spring or summer.
