Northpark Drive Expansion Project Overcoming Hurdles

8/8/24 – In the last year, the Northpark Drive expansion project hit several snags. But one by one, project partners seem to be overcoming the hurdles.

Contractors discovered utility poles and gas lines in their way. Permits to bore under the railroad and bridge over it took longer than expected. Delays forced changes in plans to keep crews busy. And eventually, when project managers ran out of alternative options, contractors had to shift crews to other jobs.

After months of delays that hampered progress, hope is finally on the horizon.

Paving the Way for Faster Progress

The pace of construction could soon accelerate again.

CenterPoint has moved all of its facilities east of Loop 494 and only a few conflicts are left west of 494.
Entergy is almost done removing its east-to-west poles at Northpark/494. This will let contractors complete the storm water drainage system, construct new feeder roads, and build at-grade vehicle crossings over the rail tracks.
Comcast, Tachus, AT&T, PS Lightwave, MCI, Optimum, BrightSpeed, and Crown Castle have either finished relocating their facilities, submitted relocation plans under review at the City, or received Permits for relocation. In the last case, they have also provided schedules to the TIRZ
A new water main will allow service to be transferred from Porter SUD to City of Houston. This same water main also serves the newly installed fire hydrants along Northpark.
Contractors and UnionPacific have resolved right-of-way issues. Work should start on the rail crossings later this year.
Project managers have acquired additional rights of way from private property owners
Alternate plans are in place for rerouting traffic
Entergy has submitted Plans for permits that will let them bury their power lines west of 494 and underneath the railroad tracks on Northpark Drive.

Most of these changes, while barely visible, are highly critical.

Improved Working Relationship with Entergy

Project Manager Ralph De Leon predicts motorists could soon see visible progress. Brian Garcia, Entergy’s customer service manager, agrees.

Both men cite an improved working relationship. Weekly meetings between their teams have reportedly resolved most technical, permitting, and scheduling issues.

Next Steps

Harper brothers has finished burying culvert down the center of Northpark. Now the company will begin installing culvert on the north side of the street westward. It will eventually connect to the system at Self-U-Storage.

*Looking west at extent of culvert installation. From here, culvert will move north/right to make room for surface turn lanes and a bridge over the railroad tracks and Loop 494.*

The next leg will go under the railroad tracks and Loop 494. It will connect the eastern and western sections of the storm water drainage system.

In general, the next major steps for the Northpark Drive Expansion include:

Shifting westbound traffic toward the center
Burying drainage culverts on the north side of the street.
Building permanent access roads on the north.
Shifting traffic back to the permanent lanes.

Keep your fingers and tire jacks crossed. Working out many of these unforeseen issues delayed the project 188 days so far. The delays also forced Harper Brothers Construction to divert some of its crews to other jobs to keep them busy.

Photos of Work to Date and In Progress

Crews today worked on bringing power to new, temporary traffic signal locations.

Crews worked on three of the four corners of Northpark and Loop 494. Old power lines on the fourth corner (lower right) were previously de-energized and poles topped. Comcast will reportedly move its cable on those poles next week.

*Crews are also spreading and compacting dirt over installed culverts.* *(Looking W toward US59)*

*Ditto in the opposite direction.* *Looking east toward Diversion Ditch.*

Upcoming Construction Schedule

To look ahead at planned Northpark Drive expansion activities for the next few weeks, see a schedule on the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority project page.

For More Information

For more information about Northpark Drive expansion and a history of the project, see these posts on ReduceFlooding.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/8/24

2536 Days since Hurricane Harvey

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