Northpark Will Close at UPRR Tracks One Week from Today for Three Days

2/26/25 – One week from today, Northpark Drive will close for three days – from March 5-7. UnionPacific Railroad (UPRR) will maneuver a two-hundred-foot section of track and ties – welded and bolted into a single, massive unit – into place across what will become ten lanes of traffic and two sidewalks.

Section Already Assembled, Ready, Waiting

UPRR has already assembled the massive section in the TxDOT right of way along Loop 494 that parallels the tracks. According to a UPRR consultant…

The rails, ties and hardware should weigh approximately 55,000 pounds.

That’s the average weight of 22 small cars.

The photos below show the assembly and where it will move.

*Assembly area is in old northbound Loop 494 lanes currently scraped to the dirt. Note new section of track near bottom of frame below existing track.* *Northpark is in upper right* *of frame.*

*Steel plates that cradle rails and hold them in position.*

*Looking S along Loop 494 (right). Northpark at top of frame.* *New rail will be centered across Northpark where old rail now crosses it. See below.*

*Side shot shows placement of new section.*

The plan for maneuvering the giant section of track into place has changed several times. The latest indication from UPRR is that they now plan to use four vehicles, one on each corner to lift and place the section.

Benefits of Single Section

The single, long section of track will provide additional stability for the high traffic area, especially where the track crosses over storm sewers, water lines and other underground utilities.

Once placed, the section will span three vehicle crossovers and two sidewalks.

One to replace the existing roadway.
Two where new feeder roads will go
Two 10-foot-wide multi-use pathways outside of each of the two feeder roads.

Next Steps

When the track crew finishes, a different crew will install temporary signals and gate arms. Once the feeder roads are constructed, they will return to install permanent signals and gate arms.

And once the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority’s contractor, Harper Brothers, completes drainage and utility work, they will build two new feeder roads, each containing two lanes, that cross the tracks.

Then, they will abandon the current center lanes so bridge construction can start later this year. The feeder roads will carry all traffic for the duration of bridge construction.