Public Hearing In Grimes County On Controversial Toll Road Project

It's what some are calling the "Aggie Highway." The toll road would have one lane in each direction, with the option of building additional lanes in the future. And there's a five-mile segment near Navasota that would have frontage roads that are not tolled.

The $170 million project is getting a lot of opposition from residents. David Tullos with the Grimes Citizen Advisory Group says he's worried it will split their rural county in two. Tullos says what concerns him is that the initial phase of the project doesn't include connector ramps at a couple of major intersections.

"So that will completely stifle any potential development along the toll road corridor," says Tullos. "So in effect, you will create dead zones within Grimes County with no opportunity for future development."

But Navasota Mayor Bert Miller likes the plan. He says the toll road would bring in more business and it would also help people who live in the region.

‘We have quite a few folks that do commute to the Tomball-Houston area, and also ones who live in those areas and travel here for work," adds Miller.

There will be a public hearing on the project Thursday night, June 30 at Navasota Junior High School. TxDOT is having an open house at 5:30 p.m. Officials will hear public comment starting at 6:30 p.m.