On April 20, 2017, Brazoria County Toll Road Authority (BCTRA) awarded Pulice Construction (Pulice) the SH 288 Segment B Brazoria County Expressway project (Expressway). The $97.2M Expressway, which has been planned for years to ease traffic and congestion, will be the first toll road for BCTRA since its inception in December 2003.
Construction for the Expressway is set to begin June 2017, with a completion date of July 2019. The scope of work includes a five mile 4-lane toll road down the median of SH 288, bridges at FM 2234, FM 518, and two branches of Mustang Bayou, as well as an elevated “T” toll-lanes connector at Hughes Ranch Road. Also included in the scope is the reconstruction of the FM 518 intersection that includes adding turn lanes and adjusting the frontage roads. The Expressway is divided up into three separate components, each being funded by different agencies. BCTRA is responsible for the construction of the toll-lanes, which is the main portion of the project; while the Texas Department of Transportation is funding the reconstruction of the intersection of FM 518 and SH 288; funding of aesthetic improvements is by The City of Pearland.
The Expressway is part of a large initiative by Harris and Brazoria Counties to help relieve congestion along the SH 288 corridor. Already under construction is the SH 288 Toll Lanes from Beltway 8 to IH South Loop 610. This project was awarded to Almeda-Genoa Contractors, a joint venture led by Dragados USA and Pulice, together holding 50%, and Shikun & Binui America (50%). For more information, visit: https://www.pearlandtx.gov/Home/Components/News/News/1991/785?backlist=%2fdepartments%2fcity-hall%2fcommunications or http://brazoriacountytx.gov/departments/brazoria-county-expressway
