Hardy Toll Road

Infobox TX State Highway
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name=Hardy Toll Road
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length_mi=21.6
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length_round=1
formed=1988
dir1=South
dir2=North
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The Hardy Toll Road runs from Interstate 45, north of Houston just below the Harris County line, to Interstate 610, near central Houston. The road generally parallels Interstate 45. The portion from I-610 to Crosstimbers Road is known as Spur 548, although this is unsigned. [ [http://www.dot.state.tx.us/transcom/agenda.htm?pg=0201 Texas Transportation Commission Agenda, Thursday, February 22, 2001.] . Texas Department of Transportation. Last accessed September 29, 2006.] [ [http://www.geocities.com/dstanek.geo/txhwys/ss.html State Highway Spurs] . Last accessed September 29, 2006.]

Construction on the toll road started in September 1984 and the entire road was complete by June 1988. [http://www.hctra.com/hctra/history.html#ph1 HCTRA Project History] . HCTRA. Last accessed September 29, 2006.] The toll road runs convert|21.6|mi|km and costs $3.00 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 $1.00 toll. At Hardy North and South toll booths, a 25 cent discount applies to electronic EZ TAG users.

The road is named for nearby Hardy Street, which makes up the frontage roads for the toll road in two locations: (1) between Spring Railroad Yard and FM 1960 and (2) Greens Road to 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 convert|65|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on, even inside Beltway 8.

Planned extensions

outhward

Future plans are to extend the toll road south an additional four miles (6 km) into downtown Houston (the northern most mile marker is 25, though the current road is only convert|21.6|mi|km long). In November '07 the city of Houston gave approval for street closures required to construct the connections to the downtown freeway loop. Construction will start in August 2009 with completion sometime in 2011. It is expected that the toll road will deviate from Hardy Street south of I-610 and follow Maury Street [ [http://www.houstonfreeways.com/modern/2006-03_houston_update.aspx Houston Photos, March 2006] . Erik Slotboom. Houston Freeways. Last accessed September 29, 2006.] to connect with the Eastex Freeway near I-10, [ [http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/moveit/3960734.html Hardy Toll Road goal still two years away] . Rad Sallee, "Houston Chronicle". June 12, 2006. Last accessed September 29, 2006.] as part of the ramp connections have already been built. [ [http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=&ie=UTF8&z=19&ll=29.768433,-95.344889&spn=0.001048,0.00166&t=k&om=1 Satellite
] . Google maps. Last accessed October 23, 2006. "(Note: U.S. 59 in this image is shown under construction, prior to 2003.)"]

Northward

As the population of Montgomery has grown quickly in recent years, the need for a northward extension is being evaluated. Originally, the plan was to construct the extension along the right of way for the railroad. However, recent growth in Oak Ridge North will require 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. No plans for construction have yet been formulated. [ [http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=2003_3659502 Hardy Toll Road extension is eyed into Montgomery County] . Beth Kuhles, "Houston Chronicle." May 29, 2003. Last accessed September 29, 2006.]

Lane count

The following are the number of mainlanes in each direction, as of August 2008:
*3 lanes each way between Interstate 610 and Beltway 8 (northbound exit/southbound entry)
*2 lanes each way crossing over the Beltway 8 frontage roads
*3 lanes each way between Beltway 8 (northbound entry/southbound exit) and FM 1960
*2 lanes each way between FM 1960 and Hardy North Toll Plaza
*3 lanes each way between Hardy North Toll Plaza and East Louetta Road
*2 lanes each way between East Louetta Road and Interstate 45 (northern terminus)

Exit list

ee also

* Harris County Toll Road Authority

References