Over the past 15 years, residents began using the Hwy 288 corridor to travel to the Medical Center, downtown Houston and the Galleria area for work. The growth of Pearland, coupled with the construction of Hwy 288 and Beltway 8, which provided area residents improved access to the major job centers in the Houston region, led to congestion issues on SH 288. Because of that, transportation and mobility initiatives have been planned to ease the congestion and improve mobility in and around the City of Pearland.
SH 288 Toll Project – Brazoria County portion (Updated as of August 2015):
- Scope: Develop 4 toll lanes from CR 58 to the Harris/Brazoria County line.
- Estimated Construction Cost: $100 M
- Status: Design Phase at 95 percent, Finalizing T&R Investment Grade Study
SH 288 – Harris County portion (Updated as of August 2015):
- Scope: The Texas Department of Transportation project consists of a 10.3-mile section of SH 288 from US 59 to the Harris County line at Clear Creek in Harris County
- Estimated Construction Cost: The total project investment is estimated at $800 million.
- Status: Estimated construction start first quarter 2016, Estimate Open to Traffic Early 2019
The project includes the following:
- The design, construction, maintenance, and operation of four tolled lanes within the median of SH 288 from US 59 to the Harris County line at Clear Creek and design, construction, maintenance, and operation of up to eight direct connectors at Beltway 8
- Direct connectors to provide access from SH 288 tolled lanes to the Texas Medical Center; eight direct connectors at Beltway 8; and rebuilds most of the I-610/SH 288 interchange.
- Conditionally awarded project to Blueridge Transportation Group
Beautification Efforts (A City of Pearland/Pearland Economic Development initiative):
- In November 2013, a management district (PMMD#2) was created to improve the appearance the SH 288 corridor. A Board of Directors was established and a maintenance and operations tax of $0.10 per $100 in valuation was approved by voters in the District.
- The 288 Corridor Master Improvements Plan was adopted by the Pearland Economic Development Board of Directors, the Pearland Municipal Management District #2 and the City of Pearland and includes plans and cost estimates for the beautification of key intersections along the corridor.
- After PMMD#2’s approval of the SH 288 Master Improvements Plan, work began on the initial clean-up of the corridor, including the power washing of the Shadow Creek-SH 288 and FM 518-SH288 interchanges and more frequent mowing, sweeping, and trash collection along the corridor.
- The City, PEDC and PMMD#2 have also been working to implement the long-term projects from the 288 Corridor Master Improvements Plan in unison with BCTRA and TxDOT plans for the managed toll lanes.
- The first scope of work for this initial phase will include the hardscape enhancements that will be included in the County’s toll lane construction contract for work such as retaining walls, brick pavers, grading and amentitizing of the detention ponds for the entire corridor.
- A second scope of work will be for the improvements at the toll lane entrance at Hughes Ranch/Discovery Bay Drive and the McHard/Shadow Creek Parkway interchange based on the Master Plan improvements. The completed design documents will depict actual materials, sizes and specific locations of all landscape elements, fine grading, lighting, irrigation, sidewalks and gateway markers. The Broadway, CR 59 and Beltway 8 intersections will be completed in later phases.
Beautification Efforts Key Milestones
