Only a few weeks after the recent revised road bond was approved by Montgomery County voters, the first road improvement project funded by that bond is already underway.

The project, which will include the widening of Rayford Road from Richards to SH 99 and the construction of a railroad overpass on Rayford just east of I-45, is a significant step forward for Precinct 3 Commissioner James Noack’s South County Mobility Plan and its dedication to improving mobility in the area.

“We are the first to move forward with the final design of a project listed in the November road bond,” said Noack.

[quote align=”center” color=”#999999″]“Rayford Road traffic and congestion and frequent accidents leave residents of southern Montgomery County with the frustration of lost time during an extended commute. Additionally, the at-grade railroad crossing only adds to the level of frustration and congestion.” – James Noack[/quote]

The construction of a grade separated crossing of the railroad tracks and one additional lane in each direction on Rayford Road will significantly relieve congestion, according to reports.

Montgomery County Commissioners Court unanimously voted to award Klotz Associates, dba RPS Klotz Associates, a professional engineering services contract for the project.

The contract is $1.9 million and includes all engineering services, final construction documents, property acquisition services, surveying, public outreach and bid phase services.

“Klotz Associates has an unparalleled background and experience in this type of road improvement project,” said Noack. “Few firms have the breadth and depth of engineering services as they do. Additionally, knowing that the Principal assigned to oversee this project personally designed the prior Rayford Road expansion is a huge benefit.”

The South County Mobile Plan has been one of the top priorities in Noack’s commissionership.

Once the South County study confirmed that Rayford should be the top priority, he began vetting engineers. Klotz did an excellent job with the preliminary design contract awarded last year, proving their qualifications and performance. “When selecting an engineering firm, I look not only at their experience and qualifications, I look for a firm that will stand behind the design and the finished product,” said Noack.

Klotz Associates, which was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in Houston, will have 60 transportation professionals, including 32 registered professional engineers, available to design the project, which is projected in writing by the firm to come in under budget.

“We have a long history of designing major transportation projects in the Region, including the recent $25 million expansion of FM 1488,” said David Balmos, Principal at Klotz Associates. “Some of our other major projects we have designed and that were successfully constructed include the expansion of IH 45 in north Harris County and the expansion of US 290.”

The firm also recently designed the 4-lane to 6-lane expansion of Hardy Toll Road from FM 1960 to SH 99, which includes a grade separation over the same Union Pacific Railroad line as Rayford Road. This project, ordered by Harris County Precinct 4, is currently under construction. “Additionally, my twenty years of personal experience also includes the design of the expansion of Rayford Road, the Grogan Mill Bridge over the Waterway, Lone Star Parkway around the City of Montgomery, and improvements to Nichols Sawmill Road, FM 1485, FM 1314, and FM 1484,” said Balmos.

Noack plans to provide constant updates on the different phases of this project and the other projects that will take place in Precinct 3. For more information, visit www.precinct3.org or call 936-539-7817.