Texas State Highway 99 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
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| Grand Parkway | ||||
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Opened section of SH 99, highlighted in red.
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| Route information | ||||
| Maintained by TxDOT and FBCTRA | ||||
| Length | 123 mi (198 km) | |||
| Existed | August 1994–present | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| CCW end |    I-69 / US 59 / FM 2759 in Sugar Land |
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| CW end |  SH 146 in Baytown |
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| Location | ||||
| Counties: | Fort Bend, Harris, Montgomery, Liberty, Chambers | |||
| Highway system | ||||
| Highways in Texas Interstate • U.S. • TX (Loops – Spurs – Rec – FM)
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State Highway 99 (SH 99), also known as the Grand Parkway, is a huge circular road in Texas. It's like a giant loop that goes around the Houston area. The first part of this road opened on August 31, 1994.
When it's all finished, the Grand Parkway will be the longest beltway (a road that goes around a city) in the United States. It will also be the seventh-longest ring road in the world! It's the third big loop around the Houston area. The first inner loop is Interstate 610, and the second middle loop is Beltway 8 (also called the Sam Houston Tollway).
The Grand Parkway will be about 170 miles (270 km) long. It has been divided into 11 different sections, called "segments," to make it easier to build and pay for. In May 2019, the Texas Department of Transportation also named it the Mayor Bob Lanier Memorial Parkway. This was to honor Bob Lanier, who was the mayor of Houston from 1992 to 1998 and helped start the idea for the Grand Parkway.
Contents
History of the Grand Parkway
The name "SH 99" has been used for different roads in Texas over time.
- An earlier SH 99 was created in 1924, going from San Angelo to Fort Stockton. This road was later changed to be part of U.S. Route 67.
- In 1960, a new SH 99 was named. It went from Denton to the Oklahoma state line, matching the OK 99 road in Oklahoma. This road later became part of US 377.
The current SH 99, the Grand Parkway, was first planned on October 25, 1984. It was designed to be a loop around Houston. Over the years, parts of its route have been changed and updated to connect with other major roads.
How the Grand Parkway Works
The Grand Parkway is built in different sections, or "segments." Some parts are managed by the Fort Bend County Toll Road Authority, and others by the Texas Department of Transportation.
The speed limits on the Grand Parkway are usually between 65 and 75 miles per hour (105 to 121 km/h).
Most of the Grand Parkway is a toll road. This means you have to pay to use it. You can pay using special electronic tags like TxTag, EZ TAG, TollTag, K-TAG, or Pikepass. You cannot pay with cash on this road. If you don't have a tag, you can often pay by mail.
Segments of the Grand Parkway
The Grand Parkway is being built in several parts, called segments. Here's a look at them:
- Segment A: This part is planned to go from SH 146 near San Leon to I-45 in League City. As of November 2022, this part is not being actively planned for building.
- Segment B: This segment will connect I-45 in League City to SH 288 near Rosharon. Construction on a part of Segment B is expected to start in Spring 2027 and finish by 2030.
- Segment C: This section will stretch from SH 288 near Rosharon to I-69/US 59 in Sugar Land. The start date for building this part is not yet set.
- Segment D: This was the first part of the Grand Parkway to open. It runs from just north of I-10/US 90 (west of Houston) south to I-69/US 59 in Sugar Land. Parts of this segment have special toll lanes on overpasses. This means you can pay a small fee to use a faster lane over busy intersections, or you can use the regular road with traffic lights. This segment has been open since 1994.
- Segment E: This part connects I-10/US 90 near Katy to US 290/SH 6 near Cypress. Construction started in 2011, and this segment opened in December 2013.
- Segment F-1: This section links US 290/SH 6 near Cypress to SH 249 near Tomball. It opened on February 5, 2016. Later, new direct ramps were added to connect to the Tomball Tollway.
- Segment F-2: This part connects SH 249 near Tomball to I-45 near Spring. Construction began in June 2013, and the main part of this segment opened on February 5, 2016.
- Segment G: This segment connects I-45 near Spring to I-69/US 59 in New Caney. It opened on March 29, 2016.
- Segments H and I-1: These segments stretch from I-69/US 59 north of Houston to I-10 east of the city. Construction started in summer 2017 and these parts opened in May 2022.
- Segment I-2:
This segment opened on March 25, 2008. It runs from I-10 east of Houston south to Business SH 146 in Baytown. TxDOT started collecting tolls on this part in November 2011.
Why Some People Support or Oppose the Parkway
Like many big projects, the Grand Parkway has both supporters and people who are against it.
- Concerns about Noise: Some people who live near the Grand Parkway, especially in areas like Cinco Ranch, have noticed more noise as the highway has grown. They have asked for sound barriers to be built to reduce the noise, but so far, these have not been added.
- Impact on Neighborhoods: Some groups of residents don't want the Grand Parkway to go through their neighborhoods. For example, a group called "United to Save Our Spring" tried to stop the road from being built near their homes.
- Support for Easier Travel: On the other hand, many people living in the outer suburbs, like The Woodlands, support the Grand Parkway. They see it as a helpful toll road that makes it easier to travel long distances without having to drive through the busy city of Houston. It gives them another way to get around besides the Sam Houston Tollway.
- Finding the Best Route: In some areas, like Brazoria County, there have been discussions about the best path for the road. TxDOT has worked with local groups to find routes that cause less trouble for communities.
- Challenges in Developed Areas: Segment A, which would go through a very developed area southeast of Houston, is still being planned. Building a large highway through a town like Kemah would be difficult because it might mean many businesses would have to be removed.
