More of Old Northpark Drive Disappears
1/23/25 – In an effort to build the first all-weather evacuation route from Kingwood along Northpark Drive, contractors this week took a brief break – for the weather. But today, they were back at it. Here’s where things stand in the last full week of January.
Demolition, Drainage and Weather Delay
The Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority/TIRZ 10 has resumed demolishing more of the old Northpark Drive pavement. Contractors already demolished and removed the old northbound lanes on Loop 494 south of Northpark. This afternoon, they were busy scraping away the old eastbound lanes on Northpark itself between the entrance to Kings Mill and Russell Palmer Road.
In other news:
- Installation of culverts on the north side of Northpark has almost reached the UnionPacific Railroad tracks.
- A concrete pour between Loop 494 and US59 was only partially completed before the big freeze. It was paused, but rebar is ready when the temperature becomes warm enough to pour concrete again. The ideal temperature for safely pouring concrete is typically between 50°F and 70°F.
Pictures Taken 1/23/25
Here are pictures of the progress taken this afternoon.





Only one of two westbound lanes were poured before cold weather set in.

Coming Soon
In the next couple weeks, the look-ahead schedule posted on the LHRA website shows that, weather permitting:
- As soon as the main drainage reaches the UPRR, crews will drop back and begin working on laterals to businesses.
- After the eastbound roadway is removed, a small storm sewer crew will begin the installation of laterals to the new inlets at the new curb line.
- Paving crews will continue westbound work between 59 and Loop 494.
- Crews will demolish the Northbound lanes on Loop 494 north of Northpark.
For More Information
See the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority project web pages. For a history of the project, see these select posts on ReduceFlooding.
- 25.01.07 Northpark Construction: From Mistletoe to Milestones
- 24.12.18 Northpark-Loop-494 Lane Switches Happen Tonight
- 24.12.14 Major Changes Coming Soon at Both Ends of Northpark
- 24/11/15 Focus of Northpark Expansion Work Moving Toward Loop 494
- 24/10/26 Say Goodbye to the Old Northpark Drive
- 24/10/23 Northpark Crossover at Russell Palmer Closed through Sunday Night
- 24/10/11 Northpark Expansion Shifting into Higher Gear
- 24/09/16 Pictures of First Concrete Pour
- 24/08/18 Northpark Drive Construction Sequence Changing
- 24/08/08 Northpark Drive Expansion Project Overcoming Hurdles
- 24/04/19 Entergy Makes Some Progress on Northpark but Significant Issues Remain
- 24/03/16 First Concrete Poured for Northpark Expansion
- 24/03/09 Entergy Ignores City Deadline to Move Power Lines
- 24/03/05 Details of Phase II Meeting
- 24/02/20 Entergy Escalates Battle with COH over Northpark
- 24/02/16 Excavation of Second Northpark Detention Basin Well Underway
- 24/02/02 Northpark Tree Transplantation Finished, Drainage Updates
- 24/01/13 Excavation of Northpark Detention Basins Starts
- 24/01/07 What Some Utilities Don’t Understand About the Northpark Expansion Project
- 24/01/04 Northpark Tree Moving Starts; Pond Excavation Next
- 23/11/17 Contractors Strike Oil at Entry (Illegally dumped years ago)
- 23/11/05 City Approves Northpark Expansion Agreement with Union-Pacific.
- 23/10/12 Transplanting first tree
- 23/09/30 Clearing north-side entry for first pond
- 23/09/23 How plan balances flood mitigation, costs, saving trees
- 23/09/02 New entry design, change in construction plans forced by utility conflicts
- 23/08/17 More drainage for Northpark
- 23/08/02 Ditch clearing stretches halfway to 59 in less than week
- 23/07/25 Northpark construction starts in earnest
- 23/04/13 Groundbreaking
- 22/02/19 Update on expansion project
- 21/07/28 Plan details
Posted by Bob Rehak on 1/23/25
2704 Days since Hurricane Harvey