Northpark Entergy Saga: New Power Poles Slowly Going Up

In the latest episode of the Northpark Entergy saga, last week, Entergy finally began erecting new power poles outside of the Northpark Drive expansion right of way. While this is a huge improvement after four years of no Entergy activity, don’t get too excited.

In its quest to help develop an all weather evacuation route for 78,000 people, Entergy managed to erect four poles in five days. And there’s no sign of progress near Entergy’s transformer by the Exxon station at US59 either.

In other Northpark news:

The extra northbound turn lanes at 59 seem to be complete almost all the way back to Chick-Fil-A.
At Russell Palmer and Northpark, the crossover closure will take longer than expected.
Construction of the four decorative planting areas in the two stormwater retention-basins at US59 is now complete and contractors have filled in dirt behind the retaining walls.

See photos and details below.

*Last of four decorative landscaping areas (right) is now complete and backfilled.*

Entergy … La La, La La La!

On 4/2, I reported that Entergy had delivered new power poles to Northpark in preparation for moving their lines out of the City right of way.

Five days later and four years after first being notified, Entergy appears to have erected a grand total of four poles while others remain scattered on the ground.

*The four Entergy power poles erected along Northpark during the week of April 1, 2024*

Here’s what two look like from the ground.

*See new poles on the right.* *Entergy has not yet placed equipment on any poles, nor has it relocated wires.*

Meanwhile, many of the poles they delivered to the job site last week remain scattered on the ground.

*Looking E. Northpark Drive (on right). UP Railroad Tracks out of frame on the bottom.*

Moving the poles back will make room to construct turn lanes from Northpark onto Loop 494.

As I photographed Entergy’s underwhelming progress, I was reminded of what American ingenuity can achieve when companies put their shoulders into projects.

For instance, the transcontinental railroad took six years to build. Even more impressive is what the companies could achieve in a day…without modern equipment.

The Union Pacific once laid eight miles of track in a single day. Stung by the competition, “the Central Pacific concocted a plan to lay 10 miles in a day. Eight tracklayers put down 3,520 rails, while other workers laid 25,800 ties and drove 28,160 spikes in a single day.”

Compare that to Entergy’s four poles in four years. I guess that’s what happens when you give companies a monopoly in an area.

On February 6, the City of Houston gave Entergy an ultimatum to have the project completed by March 8. Tomorrow will be April 8.

Entergy appears to have put its A Team on the project. Speaking of A Teams, it only took three years to invent the atomic bomb, test it, deliver it, and conclude World War II.

But of course, Entergy is dealing with electricity and there are safety issues involved.

*Entergy transformer at US59 still unmoved.*

The Entergy transformer will require some study. To inspire public confidence, Entergy reportedly is putting its top engineers on the project.

Northbound Turn Lanes onto US59

On a happier note, traffic is now using new northbound turn lanes at US59, temporarily eliminating a huge bottleneck…until new pavement will go down for the existing lanes.

*Looking W from 59 toward 494. North is left.*

A new schedule posted by the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority shows that most work in the next month will focus on underground utilities. Those include water lines, storm drains, and box culverts on both sides of the street.

According to the schedule, Harper Bothers Construction will also install the giant reinforced box culverts in the median of Northpark toward 59 for the rest of the month.

*Before pavement goes farther east, more underground work is needed. Note culvert lined up in front of businesses.*

Russell Palmer Crossover Work Delayed

The work near the Russell Palmer intersection must be taking longer than expected. Originally it was supposed to be finished by tomorrow morning at 5AM. But the new schedule shows it being completed by next Friday, 4/12/24.

A flashing sign along Northpark this morning warmed motorists to expect daily lane closures. However, there were none this morning. And contrary to earlier announcements, motorists were making it through the intersection.

For More Information

For more information about Northpark expansion, visit the project pages of the LHRA/Tirz 10 website. Or see these posts on ReduceFlooding:

Posted by Bob Rehak on 4/7/24

2413 Days since Hurricane Harvey

The thoughts expressed in this post represent opinions on matters of public concern and safety. They are protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution and the Anti-SLAPP Statute of the Great State of Texas.

Entergy … La La, La La La!

Northbound Turn Lanes onto US59

Russell Palmer Crossover Work Delayed

For More Information

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