HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Later this year, crews will break ground on a brand new portion of the Grand Parkway, or Highway 99. It's a massive ring that spans seven counties, and almost six decades of planning, development, and construction. When it is finished, the 180-mile loop will connect the farthest outskirts of the Houston area, but at a cost.
Today, about half of the loop is built and open to traffic. That portion extends between the US-59 South and US-59 North.
The next step is to construct the 50 mile northeast segment, stretching from US-59 North near New Caney to I-10, east of Baytown.
Plans call for one lane in each direction, widening out to two in some spots, with shoulders and tolls.
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TxDOT says the new northeast span of the Grand Parkway will cost about $10.87 to drive -- the same amount as the amount to drive the open portion between I-10 the Katy Freeway and US-59 the Eastex Freeway. Then tack on an extra $2.45 for the segment operated by the Fort Bend County Toll Road Authority. When you total it up, and that means you would spend nearly $25 to drive the whole open portion.
Construction on the northeast side will begin later this year and is expected to wrap up in 2022.
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