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Hardy Toll Road

From Wikipedia - Reading time: 11 min
Hardy Toll Road marker
Hardy Toll Road
Map
Hardy Toll Road highlighted in red; Hardy Toll Road Airport Connector in blue
Route information
Maintained by Harris County Toll Road Authority
Length21.6 mi (34.8 km)
Existed1988–present
Major junctions
South end I-610 in Houston
Major intersections Beltway 8 at Aldine
SH 99 Toll at Spring
North end I-45 at Spring
Location
CountryUnited States
StateTexas
CountiesHarris
Highway system

The Hardy Toll Road is a controlled-access toll road in the Greater Houston area of the U.S. state of Texas, maintained by the Harris County Toll Road Authority. The route runs from Interstate 610 near central Houston to Interstate 45 just south of the Harris–Montgomery county line. The road generally parallels Interstate 45. The portion from I-610 to Crosstimbers Road was designated on September 26, 1984 as Spur 548, although this is unsigned.[1][2][unreliable source][3]

Construction on the toll road started in September 1984 and the entire road was complete by June 1988.[4] The toll road runs 21.6 miles (34.8 km)[4] and costs $3 to drive its full length ($1.50 north of Beltway 8 and $1.50 south of Beltway 8). A four-mile (6 km) connecting road to the George Bush Intercontinental Airport requires a $1.20 toll. As of July 18, 2016, the Hardy Toll Road discontinued cash tolling and made the switch to all-electronic tolling. All drivers must now use an EZ TAG to access the toll road.[5]

The road is named for nearby Hardy Street, which makes up the frontage roads for the toll road in two locations: between Spring Railroad Yard and FM 1960, and between Greens Road and Crosstimbers Road.

A large portion of the southern segment resembles Austin's Mopac Expressway in that an active line of the Union Pacific railroad runs along its median. Like other toll roads in the Houston area, the speed limit is 65 mph (105 km/h), even inside Beltway 8.

Planned extensions

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Southward

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Future plans are to extend the toll road south an additional four miles (6 km) into downtown Houston (the northernmost mile marker is 25, though the current road is only 21.6 miles (34.8 km) long). In November 2007 the city of Houston gave approval for street closures required to construct the connections to the downtown freeway loop. Originally, construction was scheduled to start in August 2009 with completion sometime in 2011; however, this has been delayed. It is expected that the toll road will deviate from Hardy Street south of I-610 and follow Maury Street [6][unreliable source?] to connect with the Eastex Freeway near I-10,[7] as part of the ramp connections have already been built.[8]

Construction on the Hardy Toll Road Downtown connector began in 2014.[9]

Northward

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Because the population of Montgomery County experienced quick growth, the need for a northward extension was evaluated. Originally, the plan was to construct the extension along the right-of-way for the railroad. However, recent growth in Oak Ridge North requires that the Hardy Toll Road extension deviate from this right-of-way in places. Feasibility studies have evaluated possible routes between FM 1314 and the San Jacinto River, with the northern terminus planned to be at Loop 336. As of 2003 no plans for construction had been formulated.[10]

Lane count

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The following are the number of mainlanes in each direction, as of May 2017:

  • 4 lanes each way between Interstate 610 and Crosstimbers Road (these lanes are the unsigned Spur 548)
  • 3 lanes each way between Crosstimbers Road and Grand Parkway (SH 99 Toll)
  • 2 lanes each way between Grand Parkway and Interstate 45 (northern terminus)

Exit list

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The entire route is in Harris County. All exits are unnumbered.

LocationmikmDestinationsNotes
Houston

 I-610 (North Loop Freeway) to I-69 / US 59 – Downtown Houston		I-610 exit 19B; southbound exit & northbound entrance; access to I-69/US 59 via I-610 east
Hardy Street / Elysian StreetSouthbound exit and northbound entrance
Crosstimbers RoadLast free exit before toll road begins

 Hardy Toll Road begins		Northern terminus of the unsigned Spur 548;
southern terminus of HCTRA maintenance
Tidwell Road, Parker Road
Little York Road, Gulf Bank Road
Aldine FM 525 (Aldine Bender Road) / Aldine Mail Route, Gulf Bank RoadFM 525 does not appear on exit signage
Hardy South EZTAG Plaza
Electronic toll tags only, no cash allowed
Beltway 8 (Sam Houston Parkway)Access to Sam Houston Parkway main lanes via Frontage Road
Houston Intercontinental Airport, Central Green BoulevardHardy Connector to George Bush Intercontinental Airport; Central Green Boulevard not signed southbound
​Rankin Road
HoustonRichey RoadAccess to Lone Star College–North Harris campus
Westfield FM 1960 (Cypress Creek Parkway) – Cypress, Humble
SpringHardy North EZTAG Plaza
Electronic toll tags only, no cash allowed
Louetta Road, Aldine–Westfield RoadNorthbound exit and southbound entrance; Louetta Road was formerly Lexington Boulevard
Riley Fuzzel RoadNorthbound exit and southbound entrance.
SH 99 Toll (Grand Parkway) – Tomball, New CaneyNorthbound exit and southbound entrance.


 To I-45 south / Northgate Crossing Boulevard / Springwoods Village Parkway		Northbound exit & southbound entrance; access to I-45 south (which does not appear on exit signage) via frontage roads; Springwoods Village Parkway was formerly Spring Crossing Drive

 I-45 north – Woodlands, Dallas		I-45 exit 72 northbound, 72B southbound; northbound exit & southbound entrance
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Airport connector

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The entire route is in Houston, Harris County.

mi[11]kmDestinationsNotes
0.00.0Hardy Toll Road – Houston, WoodlandsWestbound exit and eastbound entrance
0.50.80Central Green BoulevardWestbound exit and eastbound entrance
0.91.4Toll gantry for both directions
Electronic toll tags only, no cash allowed
1.11.8Waverly Drive, Aldine Westfield RoadEastbound exit and westbound entrance
3.45.5 John F. Kennedy Boulevard north – Intercontinental AirportEastbound exit and westbound entrance
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Texas Transportation Commission (February 22, 2001). "Texas Transportation Commission Agenda". Texas Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on February 17, 2007. Retrieved September 29, 2006.
  2. ^ Stanek, David (December 29, 2000). "State Highway Spurs". Texas Highway Routes. Archived from the original on August 8, 2009. Retrieved September 29, 2006.
  3. ^ Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "State Highway Spur No. 548". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
  4. ^ a b "HCTRA Project History". Harris County Toll Road Authority. Archived from the original on October 21, 2006. Retrieved September 29, 2006.
  5. ^ Delaughter, Gail (21 August 2015). "The Hardy Toll Road is Getting a Big Makeover". Houston Public Media.
  6. ^ Slotboom, Erik (March 2006). "Houston Photos". Houston Freeways. Retrieved September 29, 2006.
  7. ^ Sallee, Rad (June 12, 2006). "Hardy Toll Road goal still two years away". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved September 29, 2006.
  8. ^ "Satellite image: Exit ramp from Northbound U.S. 59 to Westbound Interstate 10 showing stub for future ramp to Northbound Hardy Toll Road" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved October 23, 2006. (Note: US 59 in this image is shown under construction, prior to 2003.)
  9. ^ "HCTRA — Harris County Toll Road Authority". Harris County Toll Road Authority. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
  10. ^ Kuhles, Beth (May 29, 2003). "Hardy Toll Road extension is eyed into Montgomery County". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved September 29, 2006.
  11. ^ "Overview Map of Hardy Toll Road Airport Connector". Google Maps. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
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