Officials in Waller County have partnered with Harris County Precinct 4 to improve a section of Pitts Road in the rapidly growing northwest quadrant of the greater Katy area. Waller County will manage the project, including the utility relocations, and will share costs with Harris County.

The project involves a section of Pitts Road starting at the City of Katy city limits near the Lakes of Katy subdivision and going north to the intersection of Pitts and Clay Road. Most of the project is located within Waller County but the intersection of Pitts Road and Clay Road is in Harris County.

“Pitts Road is in need of major expansion, and this project will provide that relief to our drivers,” said Robert Pechukas, chief of staff for Waller County. “It will transition Pitts from what it is today into a four-lane concrete boulevard with a median, storm sewers, and intersection improvements.”

The early stages of the project started in 2024, said Pechukas, and an end date has not yet been determined, as Waller County is still working through design, right of way, and coordination with Harris County Precinct 4.

Total cost of the work is estimated at $30,109,804.00, Pechukas said, with Waller County and Harris County Precinct 4 splitting the cost 50/50.

The project will upgrade the current road from a two-lane roadway to a four-lane divided boulevard and will effectively double the capacity of the corridor, a spokesperson for Harris County Precinct 4 said. Transitioning to a boulevard design removes slower-moving or stopped turning vehicles from the main travel lanes, ensuring consistent speeds, and reducing overall commuter travel times. “This expansion directly accommodates the rapid commercial and residential growth in the area, preventing severe bottlenecking,” Harris County Precinct 4 said. Additionally, the installation of a raised central median provides a physical barrier between opposing traffic streams, significantly reducing the risk of head-on collisions and sideswipes.

A traffic signal at the Pitts Road and Clay Road intersection is included in the design, which will optimize intersection control, reduce peak-hour delays, prevent traffic queuing, and create orderly, predictable gaps for vehicles making turning movements, Harris County Precinct 4 said.

The plan will also improve drainage in the area -- replacing surface drainage with an engineered underground storm sewer system which will significantly increase stormwater conveyance efficiency. “This directly addresses local ponding and street flooding concerns, keeping the roadway passable during major rain events,” Harris County Precinct 4 said.

“While we don’t have a completion date, this is one of our big priority projects on the south end, and we will keep our residents updated as we progress,” Pechukas said.

The southern portion of Pitts Road is a City of Katy project, Pechukas said, and Waller County is tying into that project, but he referred the Katy Times to City of Katy officials for further information on that segment.