Northpark Traffic Switch Starts Friday at 9

Correction: 6/6/25 @ 10:25 PM. The traffic switch scheduled for tonight has been delayed without explanation. It’s not yet clear when it will occur.

6/6/25 – A major Northpark traffic switch is scheduled to begin tonight at 9 PM on the westbound lanes between Loop 494 and US59, according to Ralph De Leon, project manager. Traffic will be rerouted from the center of the project to the recently completed new concrete on the north side of the thoroughfare.

The old center lanes will then be closed off for demolition, installation of new drainage and repaving.

De Leon did not say how long it would take to implement the NorthPark traffic switch. However, he did say that work in the center lanes should last about six months.

Northpark lane switch — *Map supplied by De Leon, project manager for Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority.*

This shot taken at a lower angle today may help readers visualize the Northpark traffic switch. I’ve highlighted the new route for westbound traffic in red.

*Crews have already placed temporary asphalt pavement for switch.*

As traffic approaches 59, the detour will widen to three lanes, with one used for turning right. It only appears to narrow because of the distance.

In other Northpark news today…

Boring Under Tracks Starts

Crews started pushing the first of the steel pipes under the railroad tracks. The pipes will convey stormwater from the area west of 59 east to the Kingwood Diversion Ditch.

*Tracks that hold boring machine are anchored to pit floor. The machine then forces steel pipe (rust colored) through a temporary hole in the pit wall.*

*Wider shot shows the beginning of the receiving pit near Loop 494 on the other side of the tracks.*

*Workers will weld additional sections of pipe onto the previous section(s) and push them through until they reach the receiving pit.*

Then they will start over again and push a second parallel pipe under the tracks to create the needed drainage capacity.

Estimated duration for the bore operation is approximately 4 weeks.

Elsewhere on Northpark Today

Contractors placed more rebar for future concrete pours. With utility conflicts in the rear view mirror, the project should start to look more like an assembly line operation.

I have received no news yet from Montgomery County Precinct 4 about the engineering review of the Enclave Detention basin. More news to follow. At noon today, culvert work appeared to have stopped short of the basin. The issue had to do with a notation on construction plans showing the basin potentially overflowing into the evacuation route for 78,000 people during extreme storms.

For More Information

See this look-ahead schedule on the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority Project website. Major activities scheduled for the next two weeks include:

Twin 60″ bores under the railroad tracks
Parking lot drainage tie-ins
Culvert and inlet installation from the Kolache Factory to Public Storage
Prepping the sub-grade and pouring concrete in the same area

Posted by Bob Rehak on 6/6/25

2838 Days since Hurricane Harvey

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