Northpark closed

Northpark Closed 3 Days as UPRR Replaces Tracks, Signals

3/5/25 – This morning, the UnionPacific Railroad (UPRR) closed Northpark Drive to replace a 200 foot section of track and install new signals. The replacement is necessary because the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority/TIRZ 10 is expanding Northpark Drive to handle increased traffic and to create the first all-weather evacuation route from Kingwood.

The expansion project will feature a six lane bridge over the tracks as well as four lanes of feeder roads at grade level, two lanes on each side of Northpark. A single, welded 200-foot section of track will replace the existing track in order to increase stability of the rail lines under all that traffic and to accommodate new drainage under the tracks.

Traffic Impact

Kingwood residents have known about the closure for months. But now it’s here. And it became clear that many people had not gotten the message. At 10 AM, outbound Northpark traffic had backed up as far as the eye could see. Police were turning it around at a temporary U-turn just before the tracks.

Looking east on Northpark at drivers who didn’t get the message about the road closure.
One car at a time squeezed through the tight turnaround, backing traffic up.

First Stage of Track Replacement

Below are pictures taken this morning of activity around the tracks at Northpark and Loop 494.

Looking SE across Loop 494 in foreground toward Northpark at top of frame. Heavy equipment lined up to move the new track into place.
Closer shot shows area where UPRR will maneuver new section of track into position.

But first, crews had to remove the old track. They started this morning with the concrete panels between tracks over Northpark Drive.

This piece of equipment has a giant “tooth” that loosens gravel around the concrete panels that traffic drives over.
Then the another tooth formed a “jaw” that lifted the panels and placed them on a forklift.
Step and repeat. That procedure continued down the tracks.
After several panels were placed on the forklift, another forklift would take its place.
Ready for pickup on lane 6.

Next steps:

  • Pull up track and ties
  • Maneuver new track into place
  • Insert concrete panels
  • Wire signals
  • Bore under tracks for utilities

Stay tuned for more pics. And stay off Northpark until Saturday. The closure lasts March 5-7.

For More Information

See the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority project web pages. For a history of the project, see these select posts on ReduceFlooding.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 3/5/25

2745 Days since Hurricane Harvey

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