7 road project updates in The Woodlands area this fall
As of mid-September, several projects in Montgomery County Precinct 3 that are part of the 2025 road bond have completed or are finishing the design phase, and a Texas Department of Transportation project on Hwy. 242 is about two-thirds complete. This list is not comprehensive.
Grogans Mill Road and Lake Woodlands Drive turn-lane extension
Project: The project will extend the left-turn lane to the median opening on northbound Grogans Mill Road onto westbound Lake Woodlands Drive.
Update: Engineering design was completed in August.
Cost: $22,500 (design)
Timeline: Construction began as of mid-September
Funding source: Montgomery County road bond
Hwy. 242 widening
Project: TxDOT is using existing right of way on Hwy. 242 between FM 1488 and I-45 to widen lanes and restripe the intersections.
Update: As of the most recent information released by TxDOT in September, the project being carried out by Posillico Civil, Inc. was 66% complete.
Haven Event Venue now booking events in The Woodlands
Haven Event Venue officials said Mark Zientek, owner of The Refuge Steakhouse & Bourbon Bar and Southern Ice Co. is opening Haven Event Venue to hold private events, weddings and company functions.
The details: Haven is designed to offer a modern and inviting space, per the website. Guests can expect:
Interiors designed with modern touches
A flexible venue for intimate or large gatherings
An exclusive catering menu by The Refuge culinary team
The venue is located in The Woodlands between the Grand Parkway and Woodlands Parkway.
Opening Oct. 22
8510 Creekside Forest Drive, Ste. E-100, The Woodlands
Oak Ridge North Police Department increases starting police pay to $71,000
Oak Ridge North Police Department will begin increasing police salaries Oct. 1 after City Council members voted 4-1 to raise the starting salary to $71,000 at a Sept. 22 workshop regarding police pay.
What to know: OakRidge Police Chief Ken Foulch presented to the council the pay adjustments based on the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office pay scale, adopted during the county budget workshops in August. Under the adjustments, the department will eliminate two vacant positions.
How we got here: On Sept. 5, Montgomery County commissioners approved a fiscal year 2025-26 budget that prioritizes officer pay through a $9 million pay parity plan, as reported by Community Impact.
Texas to overhaul STAAR, launch 3 new exams in 2027
The Texas Education Agency will begin transitioning to a new standardized testing system after Gov. Greg Abbott signed a law Sept. 17 to replace the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness with three shorter exams.
The overview: Through the 2026-27 school year, Texas public school students in third through 12th grade will continue taking the STAAR each spring. Beginning in fall 2027, students will take three tests at the beginning, middle and end of the year under House Bill 8, the new law.
Students’ results will be released within 48 hours after each new test is administered. STAAR scores are currently released about six weeks after a test ends, according to the TEA.
The debate: Bill author Rep. Brad Buckley, R-Salado, said the new system will reduce test-related anxiety; give students and teachers feedback throughout the school year; and increase legislative oversight of Texas’ assessment and accountability systems. Critics of the plan said it would increase the amount of time students spend taking exams and essentially create “another STAAR test” developed by the TEA.
