HOUSTON - As the cities of Cypress, Tomball, Spring and The Woodlands have rapidly grown, it's only grown tougher and more time-consuming to drive between them.
But on Monday morning, those cities now have 24 miles of new toll roads connecting them that some drivers call "a game changer".
Commuters on Monday morning got their first morning rush hour test drive of the new Grand Parkway. Monday was its official opening date, although it actually opened three days ahead of schedule on Friday. The new toll road connects with the existing 99 Grand Parkway from Cypress to Sugar Land. It will be free to drive until February 15. After that date, drivers will need an EZ Tag.
Drivers in Northwest Harris County tell KHOU that waiting out three years of construction was worth it.
"Very, very convenient," said Tanja Gage. "I think it will probably cut out a lot of traffic, too, off the main freeways, once they got that straightaway."
"I think it's great," said driver Bill Friedhof. "The city's so large. It always helps to have some extra roads in the city, and I know people out on this side of town are really looking forward to it."
When the entire Grand Parkway is completed it will make a roughly 180-mile loop around the city. The next segment, running roughly 14 miles from I-45 in Spring to U.S. Highway 59 near Porter, is expected to open in March.
