Conroe city officials have canceled a $193 million project to extend Old Conroe Road and instead plan to divert funds to needed water and sewer infrastructure projects, citing the lack of a funding commitment from Montgomery County.
However, as of Monday, Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough said his office is working with Precinct 2 Commissioner Charlie Riley to ensure the project moves forward despite Conroe's action Thursday.
"This is an imperative project for the county," Keough said. "It's a lot of money (Houston-Galveston Area Council) is throwing at this, and we want to be sure we don't lose this opportunity. We are going to move forward with this project."
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While the city secured federal funds through the Houston-Galveston Area Council to cover most of the cost, Conroe was still left to fund about $40 million.
“The city council is on the full hook for the project,” Norm McGuire, assistant city administrator and director of public works, said during the council’s May 7 workshop. “We don’t have any partners.”
The city allocated bond funds for the project, however, McGuire said those funds could be reallocated for other needed projects to address the city's critical situation with the lack of water infrastructure.
Councilman Howard Wood, who, along with other city officials, worked with HGAC to secure funding, asked to defer the decision over concerns about “giving up” more than $170 million in federal funds.
“If we pull out of it, it certainly will be remembered,” Wood, who voted against canceling the project, said.
In an April 29 letter to City Administrator Gary Scott and Deputy City Administrator Nancy Mikeska, McGuire said the city has already spent $4.7 million on the project and estimated that an additional $42.5 million will be needed due to the county's “lack of commitment.”
“Given the current circumstances, staff does not believe it is fiscally responsible to continue allocating taxpayer funds toward a project that lacks full cooperative support,” McGuire stated.
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According to LJA Engineering, the 5.7-mile project was an effort between Conroe and the Texas Department of Transportation and would be funded with local and federal dollars. When complete, it would connect Sgt. Ed Holcombe Boulevard and Old Conroe Road with a bridge over the West Fork of the San Jacinto River and Lake Creek.
McGuire said only about 1.25 miles of the project is within the Conroe city limits.
“I think the county made the decision for us on this one,” Mayor Pro Tem Harry Hardman said of the need to cancel the project. “They just approved a half a billion dollar bond and they didn’t include 10% to cover this even though they are going to be the major beneficiaries of this project. So, this is not our fault.”
May 12, 2025
Reporter
Catherine Dominguez is a Houston Chronicle reporter who covers Montgomery County, including the city of Conroe and Conroe ISD.