Current Infrastructure Projects

Active Infrastructure Projects Requiring Property Acquisition

Texas continues to see unprecedented infrastructure development, with state and federal agencies, utility companies, and pipeline operators acquiring private property for public projects. Understanding which projects are active in your area helps you prepare for potential condemnation proceedings and protect your property rights.

These active projects span residential neighborhoods, commercial corridors, agricultural land, and undeveloped property across multiple Texas counties. The scope ranges from highway widening that requires small strips of property to major transmission lines that bisect entire parcels. Property owners who receive initial contact letters or notices should act quickly to understand their rights and options.

Major Highway and Transportation Projects

TxDOT and local transportation authorities are acquiring property for road expansions, new toll roads, and improved interchanges. These projects often require right-of-way along existing corridors but can also demand substantial property takings for new alignments.

Grand Parkway Sections B & C

The outer loop around Houston continues expansion through multiple counties, requiring residential and commercial property acquisitions. Segment B-1 is in active design-build procurement with construction expected to begin in 2026. Segment C remains environmentally approved but has no confirmed construction timeline. This project involves both permanent takings for the roadway itself and temporary easements for construction staging.

I-45 Harris County

The North Houston Highway Improvement Project represents one of the largest urban highway expansions in Texas history, with construction actively underway as of 2025. Hundreds of property owners face full or partial takings as TxDOT reconstructs the interstate and downtown freeway loop system. The $13 billion project is expected to take approximately 18 years to complete in full, making experienced legal representation essential for affected property owners at every stage.

SH 249 Harris County

State Highway 249 expansion continues northward from Houston, converting sections to tollway and acquiring property along the corridor. Both Houston and surrounding communities see ongoing acquisition activity as the project progresses through different phases.

FM 2920 Harris County

This major east-west corridor through northwest Houston has been under study for widening and intersection improvements. Commercial property owners along the corridor should monitor project developments, as ROW acquisition will affect parking areas, access points, and building setbacks that can reduce property values even beyond the land actually taken.

FM 517 Brazoria & Galveston Counties

Expansion of this coastal corridor involves residential, commercial, and agricultural property across two counties. The project demonstrates how single highway improvements can affect diverse property types, each requiring different valuation approaches and compensation calculations.

FM 646 Galveston County

Property acquisitions along this route affect both developed and undeveloped parcels near the coast. Owners should pay careful attention to how project boundaries interact with flood zones and environmental restrictions that can affect property values.

US 90 Waller, Fort Bend & Harris Counties

This west Houston corridor expansion widens US 90 from a two-lane roadway to a four-lane divided roadway from I-10 to FM 1463, with an estimated construction cost of approximately $113 million. The project also adds sidewalks and shared-use paths along the corridor. Landowners should consider not just current land use but also development potential when assessing fair compensation for condemned property.

FM 1488 Harris & Waller Counties

Property acquisitions along this corridor affect both established neighborhoods and newer developments across Harris and Waller Counties. The project widens existing FM 1488 from a two-lane undivided roadway to a four-lane divided roadway. The project shows how infrastructure expansion follows population growth into previously rural areas.

SH 75 Montgomery County

This north Houston corridor project requires property takings as the region continues developing. Property owners should understand how partial takings might affect access to remaining property and future development potential.

Austin Area Transportation Expansion

Central Texas continues experiencing rapid growth, triggering major transportation projects that require substantial property acquisitions. Austin-area projects involve complex valuation issues as they affect high-value urban property, developing suburban land, and rural parcels simultaneously.

I-35 Capital Express Central Travis County

This massive reconstruction of Interstate 35 through downtown Austin represents one of the most significant urban highway projects in Texas. The project involves full property takings, partial takings, and temporary construction easements affecting residential, commercial, and mixed-use properties. Property owners face complex valuation questions as the project changes access patterns, noise levels, and neighborhood character throughout central Austin.

Corridor F Williamson County

This new toll road alignment north of Austin requires significant property acquisitions through developing areas. The project shows how new highway construction differs from expansion of existing corridors, often requiring larger property takings and creating more severe impacts on remaining property. Landowners should carefully evaluate how new road alignment affects development potential and property access.

US 183 Lampasas County

Highway expansion north of the Austin metro area affects property as development pressure extends into previously rural counties. This project demonstrates how infrastructure follows population growth, with condemnation proceedings potentially involving property that has increased substantially in value as urban areas expand outward.

North and West Texas Infrastructure Development

Infrastructure projects extend across all regions of Texas, with significant activity in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, West Texas energy corridors, and other developing regions. The Keller Hicks Improvements project in Tarrant County addresses transportation needs in the northwest Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. This commercial corridor expansion affects retail centers, office properties, and residential areas, creating complex valuation questions about how partial takings affect remaining property value and functionality.

West Texas projects like State Highway 178 in El Paso County and US 62 in El Paso County show infrastructure development supporting border region growth. These projects often involve different property types and valuation considerations than urban projects in major metropolitan areas. Farm-to-Market road improvements like FM 236 in Victoria County demonstrate how rural infrastructure projects affect agricultural operations. These takings require careful evaluation of how property acquisition affects irrigation systems, pasture management, agricultural productivity, and ranch operations.

How Property Valuation Works in Infrastructure Projects

Infrastructure condemnations involve complex valuation questions that determine whether property owners receive fair compensation. Full takings require compensation at fair market value, meaning what a willing buyer would pay a willing seller for the property in its highest and best use. Appraisers must consider not just current use but also development potential, location advantages, and market trends.

Partial takings create more complex valuation questions because compensation must include both the value of land taken and damages to the remaining property. A highway project that takes a strip along the front of a commercial parcel might eliminate most parking, making the business much less viable. Just compensation includes payment for this reduction in remaining property value, but acquiring authorities often try to minimize or ignore these damages.

Easement acquisitions for pipelines or utility lines require payment for the permanent property rights the easement conveys. Pipeline easements restrict all structures and deep-rooted vegetation within the easement area, permanently affecting property use. Compensation should reflect these ongoing restrictions plus any diminution in overall property value caused by the easement presence.

Temporary construction easements allow project staging but should return property to pre-project condition. Property owners should document property condition before construction begins and hold acquiring authorities accountable for proper restoration. Acquisition offers almost always start below fair market value. Independent appraisals commissioned by property owners typically identify additional value elements that government appraisers missed or undervalued.

Why Experience Matters in Infrastructure Condemnations

Infrastructure projects involve sophisticated acquiring authorities with extensive condemnation experience and legal teams focused on minimizing compensation costs. Property owners need equally experienced representation to protect their interests and secure fair compensation.

Showalter Colgin & Davis, PLLC has represented property owners in eminent domain proceedings since 1977. This experience spans highway takings, pipeline easements, utility acquisitions, and every type of infrastructure project affecting Texas property. The firm understands how different acquiring authorities operate, what valuation approaches various projects require, and how to challenge inadequate compensation offers effectively.

Infrastructure condemnations often involve specific technical issues that affect property value. Highway projects require analysis of traffic patterns, access impacts, and noise effects. Pipeline easements demand evaluation of agricultural impacts, development restrictions, and marketability effects. The firm's attorneys work with qualified appraisers, engineers, and other experts who can properly quantify these impacts and support compensation claims.

The firm serves property owners throughout the Greater Houston area and across Texas. Whether you face a highway taking in Katy, a pipeline easement in Richmond, or utility acquisition in Sugar Land, the firm provides experienced representation focused on protecting your property rights and securing maximum compensation.