The Hardy Toll Road Needs to go ALL THE WAY TO HUNTSVILLE! (Houston: house, new construction)

[EasilyAmused]

Ok and so...I have so had it with the massive traffic trying to get past all the burbs in and out of this town.

Fridays, ok. I understand it will take me 90 minutes on a good day to get to Conroe, 20 to get through Conroe. Now on the way back the same thing is happening. Back in the old Lake Conroe house days, traffic was there, but steady flowing. All these burbs, with people commuting in almost 50 miles is making a northward escape damn near impossible.

So then I changed my route to 59N, adding an extra 20 minutes to the trip (well not really, when you count on sitting in Conroe for 30), but now they are working on that bridge North of Kingwood...massive backup

And now they have started adding lanes to the Beltway.....massive backup at random hours.

Every major artery north is undergoing some sort of big expansion project. That goodness for Garmin and a fast car and side roads. The dog doesn't go for it much though.


So here's my thought. STOP BUILDING ALL THESE FRIGGING LOOPS farther and farther out.........make a toll road to help people GET IN and GET OUT of this city. Take the Hardy North of Conroe. I'd gladly pay 15 bucks worth of toll to get out on a Friday evening.

There's my tantrum for the week. I feel much better now. Pass the wine.

[jfre81]

Didn't Montgomery County specifically opt out of the Hardy Toll Road?

I despise driving through Conroe too. I think it's why I rarely go north of Houston.

[EasilyAmused]

Originally Posted by jfre81

Didn't Montgomery County specifically opt out of the Hardy Toll Road?

I despise driving through Conroe too. I think it's why I rarely go north of Houston.

Probably. I think Montgomery County is full of cheap bast*rds. MHO.

[westhou]

Link up the Hardy Toll Road with Hwy 75. That could work. While were on the topic of building toll roads out of town, it will be nice when they turn Hempstead Hwy into a toll road. Hwy 290 needs some relief.

[EasilyAmused]

Originally Posted by westhou

Link up the Hardy Toll Road with Hwy 75. That could work. While were on the topic of building toll roads out of town, it will be nice when they turn Hempstead Hwy into a toll road. Hwy 290 needs some relief.

I could go for that too. Getting to Brenham is a bugger as well. HOWEVER, I think there should BE NO EXIT Ramps untill you're past that Fairfield place. Same for the expanded Hardy. Give ONE EXIT ( the ramp a mile long) for The Woodlands area, then commit to the drive past New Waverly. I swear people are living there and commute en-mass to downtown.

[SilverWings]

Aren't they already expanding 45 up that way? Granted that construction is a royal PITA but once finished I find it hard to believe there's THAT much volume to need a second road.

It totally boggles my mind that people commute in from the Woodlands. That is FAAAAAAR. But Conroe? Huntsville? Now that's just plain nuts. I'm sure it's a nice place and all but commuting to downtown? Maybe we need to alter our expectations a weee bit on the travel factor. Commuter Rail maybe might make sense if there were enough demand. But an exclusive toll road expressway? Doesn't seem really practical if you ask me. Though I certainly can appreciate the desire for it.

[Mom2Feebs]

Wow, are they still working on 45 through Conroe? It was a nightmare the last time I was up there a year ago.

[Malvie]

Originally Posted by Mom2Feebs

Wow, are they still working on 45 through Conroe? It was a nightmare the last time I was up there a year ago.

Dear, they've been working on IH 45 for as long as I remember, and I'm 52.

I live in Westchase, so I can't say much about people who like to live out there, but looking at the new construction---Richmond, Rosenberg, Brookshire, Sealy, New Waverly, Cleveland---at what point do you say, "No, enough is enough, I want to actually live IN Houston!" ?? I mean, I have a friend who lives in Conroe and drives to Westchase; it frequently takes him 2 hours each way. I understand he got a great house and I understand he dotes on his kids, but GEEZ.

[modster]

Originally Posted by Malvie

Dear, they've been working on IH 45 for as long as I remember, and I'm 52.

I live in Westchase, so I can't say much about people who like to live out there, but looking at the new construction---Richmond, Rosenberg, Brookshire, Sealy, New Waverly, Cleveland---at what point do you say, "No, enough is enough, I want to actually live IN Houston!" ?? I mean, I have a friend who lives in Conroe and drives to Westchase; it frequently takes him 2 hours each way. I understand he got a great house and I understand he dotes on his kids, but GEEZ.

Thank you, I don't want to sound like one of those inner-loopers that thinks everyone else is supposed to live inside the loop too or something, but yeah, at one what point is the commute just over the top?

Personally I can understand people commuting up to an hour each way so they can have a comfortable home with good public schools in a safe environment. (I wouldn't do it, but to each his own on where they want to live), I am surprised natural market forces haven't put more of a limit or damper on some of the developments sooooo unbelievably far out. Even if you don't want to live IN Houston, there are suburban options, plenty of them, that are not over an hour each way.

[lhafer]

Originally Posted by modster

Thank you, I don't want to sound like one of those inner-loopers that thinks everyone else is supposed to live inside the loop too or something, but yeah, at one what point is the commute just over the top?

Personally I can understand people commuting up to an hour each way so they can have a comfortable home with good public schools in a safe environment. (I wouldn't do it, but to each his own on where they want to live), I am surprised natural market forces haven't put more of a limit or damper on some of the developments sooooo unbelievably far out. Even if you don't want to live IN Houston, there are suburban options, plenty of them, that are not over an hour each way.

My commute is right at an hour EACH way, and I live in Humble. I work in the medical center. Traffic is fine up here. It comes to screetching halt at I-10. It take me a good 30 minutes to get from just north of I-10 to 288. Nice. That's why I quit taking 59 in. Going through downtown, even with the lights is faster.

So it's not roads out this way. It the roads that like to merge a nice 5 lane highway where there's smooth sailing, down to 2 lanes and merge with other freeways. Now that creates a traffic nightmare.