HARRIS COUNTY, TX – Construction will soon begin on the Greenhouse Road–US 290 Underpass Project to connect commuters to US-290 and Skinner Road and provide emergency vehicles with more reliable routes between the highway and railroad tracks.

Project partners Harris County MUD 500, Harris County Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey, Texas Department of Transportation, Caldwell Companies, Houston-Galveston Area Council, Harris County Toll Road Authority, and Cy-Fair Emergency Services District 9 recently broke ground on the $76 million project. The Greenhouse Road–US 290 Underpass Project is a partnership-funded effort focused on improving safety, connectivity, and emergency response access in one of northwest Harris County’s fastest-growing areas.

“Part of the job as an engineer is finding solutions that will improve people’s lives,” said Commissioner Tom S. Ramsey, P.E. “This project can save lives by helping first responders avoid train delays. It truly is a transformational project that will bring more connectivity to this area for not only motorists, but also pedestrians and bicyclists.” 

For Jeff P. Collins, a professional engineer serving on the Harris County MUD 500 Board, this project is decades in the making.  “The Greenhouse Road–US 290 Underpass Project has been decades in the planning, funding, permitting and design,” said Collins. “MUD 500 thanks all our project partners and now looks forward to seeing the project become a reality with the Texas Department of Transportation overseeing work by contractor Harper Brothers Construction.”

The four-year construction project will also require coordination with Union Pacific Railroad, including the temporary rerouting of rail tracks during portions of construction so crews can safely build the US 290 underpass beneath the active rail line. Once completed, Greenhouse Road will expand to six lanes, and commuters will have additional connections to the US 290 frontage roads and Skinner Road, along with pedestrian crossings, and a new 10-foot-wide hike-and-bike path.

“This project represents the culmination of years of vision and collaboration,” said Peter Barnhart, President of Caldwell Companies. “By improving connectivity across US 290 to Skinner Road, the Greenhouse Road underpass will not only benefit local residents and commuters but also unlock tremendous commercial potential at one of the most sought-after intersections in NW Houston.”

About Harris County Precinct 3

The Office of Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom S. Ramsey, P.E. maintains Harris County's largest unincorporated region, including 6,800 miles of roadway, while offering free activities and amenities across its 73 parks and 11 Community and Nature Centers. With more than 1.2 million residents residing across 1,000 neighborhoods and 15 school districts, Commissioner Ramsey champions safer neighborhoods, better infrastructure, and common-sense governance through responsible use of taxpayer dollars. Learn more at pct3.com.