The New Caney ISD board of trustees voted Dec. 15 to terminate a construction contract for a $21.4 million project to build a new operations and transportation facility for the district.

Latest update: The board canceled the district’s contract with Houston-based Gamma Construction Co., which was originally approved Oct. 20.  NCISD trustees opted to redo the project bidding process after a construction company from the first round of bidding sued the district, said Scott Powers, executive director of Public Relations for NCISD, via email Dec. 18. Spring-based ICI Construction Inc. filed the lawsuit in November, according to legal documents.

Quote of note: “The board of trustees took action to terminate the contract with Gamma, for convenience, not for cause,” Powers said.

Stay tuned: District officials don’t expect the cost or timeline for the project to be largely impacted by the contract changes. The board is expected to consider project contracts in February, with construction wrapping up by February 2027.

From a growing mobile tutoring company to a dirty soda shop with a new home, several businesses have updates to share in the New Caney and Porter area.

Now open
The Highlands added a new amenity center exclusively for residents age 55 and older in early December. The Hideaway is a 6,500-square-foot amenity center designed for active adults residing in the master-planned community's 55-and-up section, Fairway Pines.

• Opened in early December
• Highland Pines Golf Club, 6700 Highland Pines Drive, Porter

• Relocated Sept. 8
• 17643 Hwy. 59, Roman Forest

Need to catch up on Community Impact’s coverage from this week? Check out five trending stories in the Greater Houston area from Dec. 15-19.

Did you know? Grand Parkway, or State Hwy. 99, is now moving into the southeastern region, according to the Texas Department of Transportation. 

The project will extend the highway 14 miles from FM 646 in League City to south of FM 2403 in Alvin, TxDOT documents show. The expansion project is slated to start construction in 2027.

In case you missed it: Two Spring ISD schools, Link Elementary School and Dueitt Middle School, will close next school year as the district faces falling enrollment and a $13 million fiscal year 2025-26 budget shortfall, according to a Dec. 10 SISD news release. 

Check this out: From a new burger spot to a new taco truck, read six dining updates across the Greater Houston area, including restaurants that recently opened or are celebrating anniversaries, as reported by Community Impact.

Community Impact compiled important holiday travel-related information, including what to know about traffic and airport activity, gas price data, and driver safety tips ahead of the year-end travel season, which runs Dec. 20-Jan. 1.

The overview: Texans should give themselves extra time to reach their destinations the weekend before Christmas, with many travelers expected to hit the road Dec. 21-22. Congestion is also expected as some Texans return home Dec. 26, according to INRIX, a transportation data company.

Minimal traffic is expected Dec. 24-25 and Dec. 31-Jan. 1, although AAA warned in a Dec. 10 news release that unexpected delays could arise from severe weather or crashes.

For the first time, more than 8 million people nationwide are expected to take domestic flights during the year-end holidays.

More information: Texas drivers will likely pay less for gas this holiday season than in recent years, AAA fuel data shows. On average, one gallon of unleaded gas costs about $2.51 in Texas as of Dec. 18, down from $2.65 one year prior.