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Texas State Highway 249

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State Highway 249 marker State Highway 249 marker
State Highway 249
Map
SH 249, highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by TxDOT, HCTRA, and MCTRA
Length49.443 mi[1] (79.571 km)
Existed1988–present
Major junctions
South end I-45 in Houston
Major intersections
North end SH 105 near Navasota
Location
CountryUnited States
StateTexas
CountiesHarris, 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

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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

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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 until it reaches Northpointe Boulevard, where the Tomball Tollway begins.

Tomball Tollway section

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Phase I

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Tomball Tollway shield

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]

Business Route and Tomball Bypass

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Business plate.svg
Business State Highway 249-B marker
Business State Highway 249-B
LocationHarris County
Length2.3 mi (3.7 km)
ExistedSeptember 25, 2003[5]–present

In 1999, a bypass around the central business district of Tomball was proposed that would reroute SH 249 along the west side of the city, this would allow commercial and thru traffic to avoid the downtown and hopefully alleviate traffic.[6][7] The alignment of SH 249 from Hicks Road to Holderreith Road that went through the city proper was re-designated as SH 249 Business-B on September 25, 2003.[5] Construction of the bypass was delayed many times,[8] but eventually began in 2005 and was completed in 2008.[9] This bypass was eventually incorporated into Phase I of the Tomball Tollway as the free to use frontage roads running alongside the tolled main lanes.

Phase II

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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.[10] Construction on Phase 2 commenced in fall 2016 and was opened to traffic on December 19, 2019.[11]

MCTRA 249 Tollway section

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Westbound Zion Road at SH 249. Tomball Tollway is maintained by HCTRA, while the 249 Tollway is maintained by MCTRA. SH 249 is signed only on the frontage roads.

From Spring Creek to FM 1774 in Pinehurst, the tolled mainlanes of SH 249 will be maintained by the Montgomery County Toll Road Authority.[12] 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.[11] 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.[13][14] The total cost of the toll for MCTRA's segment is $1.47 for two-axle vehicles and, like HCTRA's Tomball Tollway, will only accept electronic toll-tags (EZ Tag, TollTag and TxTag).[15]

Aggie Expressway section

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Segment 1A

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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. The cost to drive segment 1A is $1.95; however, 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, though at a higher cost per toll.

Segment 1B

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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 segment 1B is $2.54 for two-axle vehicles, which took effect on the day of opening.[16][17][18][19]

Segment 2

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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 is currently a 2-lane freeway[a] with intermittent passing lanes that stretches from FM 1774 near Todd Mission to SH 105 east of Navasota. The segment is not tolled.[20][21]

History

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Originally a part of FM 149, the highway was given the designation of SH 249 in 1988.[1] Previously, SH 249 was designated on June 22, 1937[22] from then-SH 73 (now Interstate 10) near San Felipe north to the Brazos River. The route was redesignated on May 9, 1940, as Spur 99.[23] The route became part of Farm to Market Road 1458 on January 20, 1966.

The highway's importance grew after Compaq, a former information technology company, moved its headquarters close to the intersection of SH 249 and Louetta Rd in the 1980s.[24] This necessitated the expansion of SH 249 in the late 1980s, and many other technology companies appeared in what became known as the "249 Corridor".[25]

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.[26] 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.

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 was desirable because of the large traffic load every October due to the annual Texas Renaissance Festival. 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 TXDOT in early 2013. TxDOT has formed a working group with local officials and stakeholders to discuss alternatives for the SH 249 corridor.[27][28][29] The segment from Sentinel Oaks to FM 1774 in Pinehurst (maintained by MCTRA) opened in spring 2020.[14] 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 completed on March 26, 2021.[30][31] In Grimes County, the north segment was constructed as a non-tolled two-lane freeway.[32] Construction in Grimes County began in late 2018 and was completed in October 2022.[33][34][21]

Major intersections

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All exits are unnumbered.

CountyLocationmikmDestinationsNotes
HarrisHouston0.000.00West Mount Houston RoadContinuation east of I-45
1.452.33 I-45 (North Freeway) – Dallas, Downtown HoustonSouthern terminus of SH 249; I-45 exit 57B
2.904.67 Beltway 8 (Frontage Road) / Sam Houston Tollwayinterchange; south end of freeway; southbound traffic has two direct ramps to westbound and eastbound Sam Houston Tollway
4.367.02Greens Road / Gessner RoadGessner Road signed northbound only
5.819.35 FM 1960 / Gessner RoadAccess to Methodist Hospital Willowbrook;
Gessner Road signed southbound only
7.2711.70Grant Road / Schroeder Road / Perry Road
8.7214.03Cypresswood Drive / Compaq Center DriveCompaq Center Drive signed northbound only
10.1716.37 Chasewood Park Drive / Compaq Center Drive / Cypresswood Drive / Perry RoadAccess to CHI St. Luke's Health - The Vintage Hospital;
Cypresswood Drive and Perry Road are signed southbound only
11.6318.72Louetta Road / Jones Road
​13.0821.05Spring-Cypress Road
​14.5423.40 SH 249 (Frontage Road) / Northpointe Boulevard / Boudreaux RoadLast free northbound exit before entering the Tomball Tollway[35]
​15.9925.73
 Tomball Tollway begins		Southern terminus of the Tomball Tollway[35]
​17.4528.08Tomball Tollway Mainlane Toll Plaza[36]
Electronic toll tags only, no cash allowed
​18.9030.42 SH 99 Toll (Grand Parkway) – Katy, SpringDirect ramps to east and westbound Grand Parkway (SH 99) from northbound Tomball Tollway
Tomball20.3532.75

 Bus. SH 249 north (Tomball Parkway) / Holderrieth Road / Alice Road		Southern terminus of Bus. SH 249[37]
21.8135.10

 FM 2920 / Bus. SH 249 south (Tomball Parkway) – Tomball, Hooks Airport / Alice Road		Northern terminus of Bus. SH 249[37][failed verification]
23.2637.43Brown Road / Baker Road / Zion RoadAccess to Lone Star College-Tomball campus
Harris–Montgomery
county line		​24.7239.78
 Tomball Tollway ends
MCTRA 249 Tollway begins		Northern terminus of HCTRA's Tomball Tollway;
southern terminus of MCTRA 249 Tollway[35]
Montgomery​26.1742.12Decker Prairie Road / Hardin Store Road[38]
​27.6244.45Decker Prairie Tolling Zone[39]
Electronic toll tags only; cash and pay-by-mail not allowed.
​29.0846.80
 FM 1774 north / Woodtrace Boulevard – Magnolia		Southern terminus of FM 1774 (not signed southbound);[38] last southbound exit for traffic paying by mail.
​30.5349.13MCTRA 249 Tollway ends

 SH 249 Toll begins		Northern terminus of MCTRA 249 Tollway;
southern terminus of SH 249 Toll (Aggie Expressway)[35]
​31.9951.48 FM 149 – Montgomery[40]
​33.4453.82Mainlane Toll Gantry North of FM 149[41]
Electronic toll tags or pay-by-mail (cash not accepted)[17][18]
​34.9056.17Audubon BoulevardRoad not connected yet[42]
​36.3558.50 FM 1488 – Hempstead, Magnolia, The Woodlands, Conroe
​37.8060.83
 FM 1488 west (Magnolia Relief Route) – Hempstead		Proposed exit; eastern terminus of proposed Magnolia Relief Route[43]
​39.2663.18Jackson RoadProposed exit; would connect to FM 149 northeast of Magnolia[44]
​40.7165.52 FM 1486 – Magnolia, Dobbin
​42.1767.87Mainlane Toll Gantry North of CR 115[41]
Electronic toll tags or pay-by-mail (cash not accepted)
GrimesTodd Mission43.6270.20 FM 1774 – Magnolia, Todd Mission, PlantersvilleNorthbound terminus of toll road and start of two-lane freeway; last free southbound exit before start of toll road[40][45]
45.0872.55
 SH 249 Toll ends

 SH 249 begins		Northern terminus of SH 249 Toll;
Aggie Expressway continues as SH 249 without tolls
​46.5374.88CR 304[45][32]
​47.9877.22

 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[45][32]
​49.4479.57
 SH 105 west – Navasota

 SH 249 ends		Northern terminus of SH 249; no exit to SH 105 east[45][32]
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

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  1. ^ a b Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "State Highway No. 249". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved March 13, 2008.
  2. ^ Harris County Toll Road Authority. "Tomball Tollway". Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  3. ^ "HCTRA Projects: SH 249 Phase 1".
  4. ^ "Houston Newsmakers".
  5. ^ a b "TxDOT Minute Order 109441".
  6. ^ "Four routes for people to consider and comment upon at meeting today". May 20, 2004.
  7. ^ "City growth catalyst for expansion". June 7, 2001.
  8. ^ "249 bypass construction pushed back again". October 17, 2002.
  9. ^ "Officials break ground on awaited 249 bypass". October 4, 2005.
  10. ^ "HCTRA Projects: SH 249 Phase 2".
  11. ^ a b Lotz, Anna (August 8, 2018). "Hwy. 249 extension to Spring Creek on track for 2019 opening, additional openings to extend road to Magnolia in 2020 and Navasota in 2022". Community Impact Newspaper.
  12. ^ HCTRA System Map (Map). Harris County Toll Road Authority.
  13. ^ "New Hwy. 249 tolled lanes open in Pinehurst". Community Impact Newspaper.
  14. ^ a b McIntyre, Kara (January 30, 2020). "Opening of Hwy. 249 main lanes in Pinehurst delayed". Community Impact Newspaper. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  15. ^ "SH 249" (PDF). Montgomery County Toll Road Authority. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
  16. ^ "First stretch of 'Aggie Expressway' toll road opens Saturday". Houston Chronicle. August 8, 2020. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
  17. ^ a b "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.
  18. ^ a b "Drivers to pay tolls on Hwy. 249 beginning Dec. 1". Community Impact Newspaper. November 19, 2020. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  19. ^ "New segment of 'Aggie Expressway' toll road opens along Texas 249". Houston Chronicle. March 29, 2021. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
  20. ^ "The Texas (TX) State Highway (SH) 249 Extension Project FAQs". Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  21. ^ a b Surette, Rusty (October 28, 2022). "SH 249 is now open to all traffic in Grimes County". KBTX-TV. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
  22. ^ "Minutes of the June 21, 1937 State Highway Commission meeting" (PDF). Texas Department of Transportation.
  23. ^ Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "State Highway Spur No. 99". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved March 13, 2008.
  24. ^ Slotboom, Erik (2003). Houston Freeways. OF Slotboom. ISBN 0-9741605-3-9.
  25. ^ Ryan, Molly (January 25, 2013). "What Houston means to HP: Tech giant opens former Compaq campus doors for rare tour". Houston Business Journal. Retrieved October 24, 2013.
  26. ^ Dominguez, Catherine (December 12, 2019). "Montgomery County commissioners approve Texas 249 rename to FM 1774 near Pinehurst". The Courier of Montgomery County.
  27. ^ "MCTRA Projects: SH 249". Texas Department of Transportation. January 20, 2016. Retrieved April 20, 2016.
  28. ^ Winkler, Liza (December 11, 2015). "TxDOT holds public meeting on updated Hwy. 249 extension plan". Community Impact Newspaper. Retrieved April 20, 2016.
  29. ^ "TxDOT Projects: SH 249". Texas Department of Transportation. April 3, 2014. Retrieved April 20, 2016.
  30. ^ McIntyre, Kara (January 7, 2020). "Top story of 2020: Hwy. 249 main lanes to open in Magnolia by summer". Community Impact Newspaper.
  31. ^ "New Hwy. 249 segment from FM 1488 to FM 1774 in Todd Mission now open". Community Impact Newspaper. March 30, 2021. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
  32. ^ a b c d "SH 249: Todd Mission to Navasota (Schematics)" (PDF). Texas Department of Transportation. October 2, 2019. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  33. ^ Falls, Clay (September 19, 2018). "Work on new Highway 249 extension to start in Grimes County this fall". KBTX-TV.
  34. ^ Falls, Clay (April 12, 2019). "Grimes Co. leaders pleased with changes coming to Hwy. 249 extension". KBTX-TV.
  35. ^ a b c d Interactive Map of Houston Toll Roads (Map). Harris County Toll Road Authority.
  36. ^ "Tomball Tollway (toll rates) - Traveling North". Harris County Toll Road Authority. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
  37. ^ a b Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "Business State Highway No. 249-B". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
  38. ^ a b "249 Toll Extension Schematic: From Harris county into Montgomery county" (PDF). Texas Department of Transportation.
  39. ^ MCTRA Toll Road Map (Map). Montgomery County Toll Road Authority. Retrieved May 29, 2022 – via ArcGIS Online.
  40. ^ a b "Aggie Highway Schematic (249 Toll - From Montgomery/Harris County line to the Montgomery/Grimes County line)" (PDF). Texas Department of Transportation.
  41. ^ a b "State Highway 249 Project". TxTag. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
  42. ^ State of the City: City of Magnolia Update (PDF). Winter 2020. p. 51. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  43. ^ "FM 1488 Magnolia Relief Route - TxDOT Public Hearing" (PDF). Texas Department of Transportation. September 7, 2017. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
  44. ^ Thompson, Kayli (June 14, 2022). "Montgomery County Precinct 2 using toll road revenue to fund 3 road projects in Magnolia". Community Impact Newspaper. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
  45. ^ a b c d "SH 249 - Todd Mission to Navasota with Schematics (249 Toll - From Montgomery/Grimes County line to SH 105)". Texas Department of Transportation.

Notes

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  1. ^ Segment 2 is not controlled-access as several service drives and cross-streets intersect the freeway, such as Urbanosky Lane.
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