Three years after the official ground-breaking ceremony in June 2003, the Texas Department of Transportation-Houston District (TxDOT) celebrated the official ribbon-cutting ceremony for the first contracts to complete as a part of the State’s largest reconstruction program ever. The celebration of the completion of Contracts A and B of the Katy Freeway Reconstruction Program took place on Monday, June 26, 2006.

More than 200 business and community leaders from the West Houston and Katy areas including area elected officials came out to commemorate the event and hear comments from Texas Governor Rick Perry, U.S. Congressman John Culberson and Texas Transportation Commission Member John W. Johnson.

Commissioner Johnson highlighted TxDOT’s commitment to
THE TxDOT PLAN which focuses on:

• Reducing Congestion
• Enhancing Safety
• Expanding Economic Opportunity
• Improving Air Quality
• Increasing the Value of Transportation Assets

Congressman Culberson acknowledged the hard work of all involved with the Katy Freeway Reconstruction Program that utilized a fast track implementation strategy to reduce what would typically be a 10- to 12-year program down to an six-year delivery. “There’s nothing better we can do as politicians than to give people back their time,” Culberson said.

“The capacity of I-10 is now greatly increased. It’s safer and a friendlier place to drive. We’ve also helped reduce pollution and made this an efficient corridor for hurricane evacuation,” Governor Perry said during his opening remarks.

The completion of Contracts A & B represents approximately 10 miles of I-10. Within these 10 miles, TxDOT has built four brand new intersections and reconstructed six. The limits of Contracts A and B are from I-10 at the Harris/Fort Bend County Line to just west of Highway 6.

“Ours is the model for the future of highway construction.”
-- Texas Governor Rick Perry

The momentous event took place on the Gardens Westgreen property located at the newly constructed intersection of I-10 and Westgreen. The ribbon-cutting took place across the I-10 westbound frontage road and was followed by a ceremonial tree planting by TxDOT District Engineer Gary K. Trietsch and Texas Transportation Commission Member John W. Johnson. The tree planting symbolized the completion of the construction contract and the beginning of the landscape/aesthetics contract that will take place over the next several months.

The final step in the completion of a roadway contract entails the contractor “selling” the completed construction project back to TxDOT for final payment. Accordingly, a month-long community celebration branded “Katy Sales Days” was an invitation to the public to participate in the celebration by taking advantage of a June sales event at participating West Houston and Katy area businesses.

Texas Department of Transportation celebrated the completion of the I-10/Katy Freeway West End construction with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. From left to right, U.S. Congressman John Culberson, Texas Governor Rick Perry, City of Katy Mayor Doyle Callender, FHWA Gary Johnson and FHWA Achille Alonzi.

John W, Johnson (Texas Transportation Commission Member) addresses the crowd at the I-10/Katy Freeway ribbon-cutting ceremony.   Texas Governor Rick Perry addresses the crowd at the I-10/Katy Freeway ribbon-cutting ceremony.   John W. Johnson (Texas Transportation Commission Member) along with Gary K. Trietsch (TxDOT District Engineer) planted the first tree along I-10 westbound frontage road near Westgreen.

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