Bens Branch Erosion Forces Installation of New Bridge

1/9/25 – The widening of Bens Branch caused by ever-increasing amounts of water coming downstream from new upstream developments has forced the Bear Branch Trail Association to replace an aging wooden bridge with a new $300,000 steel truss bridge.

*Old Bridge Between Cedar Knolls and Park Royal in Bear Branch Trail Association*. *Photo by Chris Bloch.*

*New steel-truss bridge in same area being hoisted into place today.* *Photo by Chris Bloch.*

The creek has widened from 32 to 50 feet since Tropical Storm Imelda in 2019. The new steel-truss bridge became necessary to accommodate the wider span.

Upstream Growth and Importance of Bridge

Contractors installed the new bridge about a hundred yards south of the Pines Montessori School on Cedar Knolls. It connects Park Royal in Bear Branch Village to Cedar Knolls in Kings Forest Village.

It is also a major connector for foot and bicycle traffic between the western and eastern halves of the 100+ mile Kingwood trail system.

Thousands of residents use it, including students going to/from Bear Branch Elementary, Kingwood High School and Pines Montessori.

The Bens Branch watershed extends northwest all the way up into fast-growing Valley Ranch area in Montgomery County. Over the years, ever-increasing amounts of runoff have widened the watercourse, undermining the supports of pedestrian and street bridges alike.

The Tree Lane Bridge about a 1000 feet upstream from today’s bridge replacement had to have its entire substructure refurbished last year because of excessive erosion. That was at least the third set of repairs since Imelda.

The pedestrian bridge also was pummeled by the power of moving water.

*Eroded support for old bridge. Photo by Chris Bloch.*

Erosion Also Undercut Trees

During floods in January, May and July last year, erosion also claimed hundreds of trees that fell into the creek, backing water up and contributing to flooding.

*Example of erosion just a few feet downstream from new bridge.*

*Trees hauled out of Bens Branch after Beryl remain stacked on Tree Lane waiting to be hauled away.*

Pictures of New Bridge Installation on 1/9/25

The next group of pictures shows the new bridge and its placement today.

*Before installation. The new 5,000 pound steel bridge will have concrete* *poured in the tray surrounding the deck.*

*The concrete abutments are sunk deep into the ground.*

*Overhead shot shows riprap stacked on both sides. It will protect the edges of the embankment next to the bridge from erosion.*

*Wooden “matts” had to be placed under the crane to stabilize it for the heavy lift in rain-soaked soil.*

*Then a forklift and a backhoe maneuvered the new bridge down the trail to the stream.*

*As the crane slowly lifted the bridge into position, workers guided it with ropes from a safe distance.*

*They guided the bridge by hand* *for the last foot or so to make sure it was squarely seated on steel posts embedded in the concrete.*

*One whack from a sledgehammer and everything locked into place.*

More to Come

Workers still have to:

Pour the concrete deck
Place the riprap
Finish the approaches to the bridge
Replant trees destroyed by heavy equipment.

The new bridge should help reduce erosion. The cross section under the bridge increased from 120 square feet before Imelda to 420 square feet with the new design – a 3.5X or 250% increase. That will make it easier for water to flow under the bridge without backing up, causing jetting, or flooding the nearby Montessori school.

The project should be complete by the end of January 2025.

Thanks go to more than 2,800 members of the Bear Branch Trail Association who paid for the new bridge and its engineering. And a special “thank you” goes out to three volunteer members of the BBTA board – Lee Danner, Chris Bloch and Chris Arceneaux. They supervised the installation today in driving rain and near-freezing temperatures. They exemplify a dedication to excellence and community service that makes Kingwood such a wonderful place to live.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 1/9/25 with help from Chris Bloch

2690 Days since Hurricane Harvey

Upstream Growth and Importance of Bridge

Erosion Also Undercut Trees

Pictures of New Bridge Installation on 1/9/25

More to Come

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