First section of new Texas route opening

The first stretch of a highway development project in Texas is now open. New southbound toll lanes have been built for the Texas 288 project, running between downtown Houston and the Brazoria County line. The existing southbound traffic is being shifted to these lanes on a temporary basis between Holly Hall and Loop 610. But drivers are not being tolled at present. The US$815 million work is due for completion in 2019, when the tolling system will come into full use. The project involves widening the route with the addition of two tolled lanes in either direction between Interstate 69 to Brazoria County, with work having commenced in October 2016. A consortium called Blueridge Transportation Group is carrying out the construction work, which is intended to cut congestion. The consortium will also maintain the route until 2065 as part of its package arranged with TxDOT.