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SUGAR LAND, Texas – Congressman Tom DeLay (R-Sugar Land) today joined officials from Fort Bend County to begin work on a $152.5 million project to expand U.S. 59 and the future Interstate 69 corridor. The first barriers were placed at U.S. 59 and University Boulevard, where commuters often face congestion and lengthy delays.

“Expanding the Southwest Freeway will help ease congestion and delays while continuing the development of a more stable trade route through I-69,” DeLay said. “We are witnessing an unprecedented amount of growth and development in Fort Bend County due to trade and population growth in our cities and suburbs, and the only thing that is hampering improvements in this area is unnecessary traffic.”

A $152.5 million contract was awarded by the Texas Transportation Commission with funds secured by DeLay in transportation appropriations. These funds will be used to improve mobility in Fort Bend County by expanding U.S. 59–Southwest Freeway from four to eight divided lanes, from the Grand Parkway to Highway 6. With this expansion, U.S. 59 and the Houston region will be better prepared for the further development of Interstate 69.

“More businesses are being built, more jobs created, and more roads are needed to keep up with the economic boom,” DeLay said. “I am excited that U.S. 59 is finally catching up with our transportation needs. It may take some time, but the work is being done to make sure commuters in Fort Bend County get moving again.”

Frontage road bridges will be built over the Brazos River as well, allowing motorists to travel from Highway 6 to the Grand Parkway on the main lanes or the new frontage roads. There are currently no frontage roads along the roadway segment between Grand Parkway and University Boulevard.

Construction will require periodic closures of Sweetwater Boulevard and University Boulevard where each roadway intersects with U.S. 59, but the closures will not occur simultaneously or between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. Traffic will be detoured during those periods and contractors will work around the clock, seven days a week, to complete these segments as quickly as possible.

Williams Brothers Construction Company of Houston was awarded the contract with its bid of $152.5 million. Work on U.S. 59 and the frontage roads should be completed by early 2009.