Board backs Kirkendall Road widening, asks staff to pursue broader ‘Woodlands Loop’ study with TxDOT

The Woodlands Township Board of Directors on Jan. 22 accepted a report on widening Kirkendall Road and agreed to pursue follow-up planning, including a possible request to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) for a planning-level feasibility study of a broader roadway “Woodlands Loop.”

The item drew public comment focused on school safety. Resident Steve Leakey told the board the road’s current condition presented a safety threat to students and school staff and submitted County Sheriff traffic statistics showing one fatality, “1,300-plus” traffic incidents and more than 10,000 law-enforcement stops on the corridor since it was extended. “Public safety is everyone’s top priority and this is very definitely a public safety issue,” Leakey said.

Mitchell Intermediate Principal Paula Chlopeski said the school now enrolls “almost 1,300 children” and described Kirkendall near Mitchell as “school on an interstate highway,” saying parents no longer allow children to walk or bike there. She urged the board to consider measures such as a boulevard, crossing guards and additional signals or stops.

Montgomery County Commissioner Charlie Riley told the board he supports adding the two lanes that were originally planned for Kirkendall. Riley said the county has tried intersection-level fixes—timing signals, additional turn lanes and stop signs—“but it’s not only the intersection… the whole entire rest of the road needs to be expanded.” He said the county expects to seek a $450 million–$500 million road bond and that, if the bond is approved and bonds are sold in July, Kirkendall could be among the first projects assigned for engineering and design. Riley said he had an $8,000,000 planning estimate for the project and that the county had drone footage and traffic counts showing the need for expansion.

Directors asked for additional technical material. Director Sekulae Gibbs and others asked about median widths, noise mitigation and speed enforcement; Riley said the county would follow patterns used on comparable Woodlands roads, keep 30-foot buffers where appropriate and coordinate enforcement with the Montgomery County Sheriff. The board also heard that township engineer David Balmos will prepare an illustrative overlay of the 1488/2978 intersection to show potential impacts and right-of-way needs; Riley said Balmos said he could have the overlay ready by Tuesday.

After discussion, the board moved and approved a motion to accept the county report and continue follow-up planning and coordination with county staff and TxDOT. The board also moved agenda item 12 (a related request to consider a TxDOT planning study of an area loop) to follow the Kirkendall discussion and then accepted the report on that item as well.

Why it matters: Kirkendall abuts Mitchell Intermediate and Bush Elementary and runs through densely populated neighborhoods. Board and county statements tied the widening to student safety, emergency-vehicle access and general traffic congestion; Commissioner Riley framed the project as part of a larger county road-bond program that could accelerate design work if voters approve funding.

What’s next: Township staff and county engineering will circulate an overlay of key intersections, the board will coordinate with Commissioner Riley on next steps and the township will engage with TxDOT on the broader “Woodlands Loop” planning concept.