Baytown City Manager Rick Davis says they need to do something about the traffic that backs up on Garth Road, especially where it intersects with Interstate-10.
One of the projects that's underway is the southern extension of San Jacinto Boulevard. Right now it's only a short stretch of road near the old San Jacinto Mall, which is being redeveloped.
Davis says they want to give drivers another option.
"Well, what this does is it creates another major corridor that parallels Garth and will literally pick up the western side of our city," adds Davis.
The entire project will run about 1.6 miles and they're doing it in two phases. The first phase will cost about $15 million. Along with building a four-lane roadway, Davis says the project also includes lighting, landscaping and underground utilities. They're going to pay for it with money from a tax increment reinvestment zone.
"This transportation project will generate additional increment as we continue to see a large amount of interest, commercial interest, in coming in along San Jacinto, especially adjacent to the mall," says Davis.
Officials expect to complete the first phase of San Jacinto Boulevard by 2018.
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