Granite drives off with $99 million Texas road widening deal

Image: Granite Construction

US-based contractor Granite has won a $99 million contract with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to reconstruct a section of roadway in Pearland, Texas.

The project involves reconstructing and widening 5.5 miles of roadway on Farm-to-Market (FM) 521 from FM 2234 to State Highway 6 to convert the two-lane undivided road into a four-lane divided facility.

The project aims to accommodate growth in the area located in southwest Houston.

Work will include constructing approximately 200,000 square yards (167,225 sq m) of 10-inch continuously reinforced concrete pavement (CRCP), placement of 100,000 square feet (9,290 sq m) of reinforced concrete lab, excavation and embankment work, and nearly 60,000 linear feet (18,288m) of drainage work.

Crews will also construct sidewalks, improve intersections, and create turn lanes at various locations along the roadway.

Granite said it would be able to optimise the use of plant and equipment thanks to the fact that the FM 521 project six miles (10km) from three existing Granite projects along State Route 288.

Project funding will come from the TxDOT Unified Transportation Program.

Granite area manager Domingo Gonzalez said, “This project win supports our continued efforts to increase our operational presence in the greater Houston area and further establish Houston as a Home Market for the Texas Region.

“It also positions us well for future best-value work in Houston as our capabilities and catalogue of recent transportation work expand.”

Work is due to begin in September 2023 ahead of completion in March 2026.