The first phase of the Tomball Tollway is about six miles long. Three lanes were built in each direction in the middle of state Highway 249, from just north of Spring Cypress to just past FM 2920. The project costs about $155 million.
Tomball Mayor Gretchen Fagan says commuters should notice a big difference when they’re coming back Monday evening.
“It’s not going to relieve all the congestion but it’s going to make that big difference of those couple of stoplights that people have to sit through now when they’re coming home,” Fagan says.
And with rapid growth in the region, Fagan says the tollway will also benefit people who are coming to Tomball to work.
“Economic development-wise, we know that if people can get to our city easier, then they’re going to want to come here,” Fagan says.
The new roadway is electronically controlled, so people will need a toll tag to use it, at a cost of $1.45 each way. Drivers can still use the feeder roads for free.