Construction is underway on one of Cypress’ most anticipated road projects: a new connection between Greenhouse and Skinner roads designed to relieve congestion and give emergency vehicles a reliable alternative to railroad crossings.
Work began during the second week of July, according to KPRC 2. The project will extend Greenhouse Road north from Mound Road, pass beneath the Union Pacific railroad tracks and US 290, and connect with Skinner Road.
The finished roadway will have six lanes, along with 10-foot-wide hike-and-bike paths. Plans also include drainage improvements, a pump station and reconstruction around the existing US 290 crossing.
For residents, the most important change will be the creation of another north-south route across US 290. Today, many drivers depend on Barker Cypress and Fry roads, where congestion and passing trains can create lengthy delays. Approximately 75,000 to 80,000 vehicles cross US 290 between those two roads each day, according to Harris County Precinct 3.
The underpass is also expected to improve emergency response. Ambulances and fire trucks traveling between neighborhoods on opposite sides of the highway will be able to pass underneath the railroad instead of waiting for a train to clear.
The project’s construction contract is valued at approximately $76 million. Federal transportation funding will cover about $60.8 million, with the remainder shared by local partners, including Harris County Municipal Utility District 500, Harris County Precinct 3, Harris County Toll Road Authority and Cy-Fair Emergency Services District No. 9. TxDOT is overseeing construction.
The long-term benefits will come with several years of disruption. TxDOT has said construction will require traffic shifts and periodic impacts to the eastbound and westbound lanes and frontage roads of US 290 as crews replace bridge structures and build the underpass.
A specific daily closure schedule will depend on each phase of construction, so commuters should check Houston TranStar before traveling through the Greenhouse-Skinner area.
The project has been discussed and designed for nearly two decades. Construction is expected to continue into late 2029 or early 2030.
When it opens, the connection should give Towne Lake and surrounding neighborhoods more direct access to US 290 while taking some pressure off two of Cypress’ busiest corridors. Until then, residents can expect the familiar tradeoff accompanying major road projects: temporary delays in exchange for a route intended to improve mobility for decades.
Sources: Harris County Precinct 3, KPRC 2, Community Impact
