Galveston Area Council in Texas, US, has approved $170m worth of projects to ease congestion along the US290 Highway.

The first project is the US 290/Beltway 8 interchange area and work will involve construction of continuous service road along Beltway 8, collector-distributor lanes on US 290 from West Little York to FM 529 and main lanes and frontage roads from West Little York to FM 529.

The improvement project is estimated to cost $144m2.

The second part of the programme includes the transportation systems management (TSM) projects along US290 highway between Eldridge and Cypress Rosehill/Fry Road which will reduce congestion.

Improvements will also be made to US 290 intersections at Highway 6, Spring-Cypress, Skinner and Cypress Rosehill-Fry.

All of the projects are due to start in July 2012.