TIRZ Provides Northpark Update at Kingwood Town Hall

9/24/26 – At Houston City Council Member Fred Flickinger’s town hall meeting in Kingwood on 9/22/26, Tom Broad, the chair of the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority/TIRZ 10 Board, gave an update on the progress of its Northpark expansion project including its purpose, timeline and the project’s next phases.

*Tom Broad, Chair of Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority/TIRZ 10 speaking to town hall meeting about Northpark* *expansion*

Phase One Now 75% Complete

Broad characterized Phase One (US59 to Russel Palmer) as 75% complete. “We ought to be substantially complete with that phase by the end of the first quarter of 2027,” he said.

“This first project has been a long time coming,” Broad continued, “considering that the magnitude of what we were asked to do – construct an all-weather evacuation route out of Kingwood that doesn’t flood.”

He added, “I will give you an example of the difficulty. It took us two years and 11 months to construct a storm sewer drainage system that meets federal standards and that will prevent flooding along North Park. This is this is something that Kingwood residents have requested for years – an evacuation route out of Kingwood.“

Other major routes out of Kingwood, such as Kingwood Drive, Hamblen, West Lake Houston Parkway Woodland Hills and Mills Branch can flood during high-water events. During Harvey, many people became trapped by rising floodwaters. Below are several ReduceFlooding.com file photos.

4000 Students at Kingwood High School — *Looking west at Kingwood High School and Kingwood Drive (left) during Harvey.*

Evacuation Route during Harvey — *Photo by Jim Balcom of Hamblen Road during Harvey evacuation*

Harvey evacuation. Sally Geiss — *Rescue boats evacuating people along West Lake Houston Parkway at Kingwood Town Center during Harvey*

Photo by Kilee Northrup. Looking south down Woodland Hills Drive, south of Kingwood Dr. toward Deer Ridge Park and stables. Taken on Wednesday August 30, late afternoon, "once I was able to drive out of my village (Miulls Branch). Horses OK." — *Photo by Kilee Northrup. Looking south down Woodland Hills Drive, south of Kingwood Dr. toward Deer Ridge Park and stables. Taken on Wednesday August 30, 2017.*

Need to Finish Detention Basins First to Compensate for Additional Impervious Cover

Broad explained why the project started at US59 and is moving east. “We needed to complete that part of the project first because our bridge over the railroad tracks at loop 494 is essentially six additional lanes of impervious cover. We couldn’t build that bridge until we had a place for all the water to go,” he said referring to multiple drainage improvements.

Stormwater management became a major challenge. “We even had to install stormwater pipes under the railroad tracks. That was a life experience! But we got it done, and we are moving into the exciting phase of constructing the bridge.”

Complexity of Drilling 90-Foot Deep Piers in Middle of Major Traffic

That has proven tricky, according to Broad. “Council Member Flickinger has committed to keeping two lanes of Northpark open in both directions at all times,” he said. “But we still need enough area for a construction zone for the contractor.”

“That’s not easy to do. You’ve noticed that the intersection of loop 494 and Northpark has still not been opened. Our contractor needs that area to build the bridge columns.”

“These bridge columns have very deep underground piers. We had to drill 90 feet below ground. Once those bridge columns are secured, we can open the intersection. Soon, we will begin constructing the bridge columns and the caps that go on top of the columns that support the bridge beams,” he said.

Northpark bridge supports under construction — *Caps over 90-foot deep piers now under construction*

“In October, we expect to start hanging bridge beams,” said Broad. “We will also begin installing street lights on top of the bridge and begin painting the bridge. That activity, of course, will trigger closing lanes as well. But by November, most of the major construction should be completed…” Then he quickly added, “…at least everything east of the new bridge. We’ll have a six lane roadway with sidewalks and street lights for the first time.”

Street Lights Scheduled by Thanksgiving

Broad says that the new street lights won’t be turned on until Thanksgiving. “There are three circuits. The first one on the east side of Russell Palmer, will be illuminated first. Then the middle section closer to King’s Mill goes on second. And the third circuit on the bridges will have to wait until the bridge is constructed.”

Phase 2 and Detention Basin South of St. Martha

Phase Two of the Northpark Expansion goes from Russell Palmer eastward to Woodland Hills. “We are at the 30% design benchmark for Phase Two,” said Broad. “And this fall we will begin acquiring the right of way.”

In concluding his remarks, Broad said, “We’ve created something new for our budget this year. This is the Regional Detention Basin Project. It will be located where Bens Branch and the Kingwood Diversion Ditch meet. This basin when complete will hold approximately 90 acre feet of water, which will help reduce downstream flooding on both the Diversion Ditch and Bens Branch.”

Thirteen people died along Ben’s Branch as a result of Harvey.

For More Information

To learn more about the project, Broad referred the audience to Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority project pages. “You can see plans for Phase One, Phase Two and the Detention Basin as well as a three-week lookahead schedule,” he said.

He also invited the public to visit board meetings at the Kingwood Community Center at 8 AM, nine months a year. Usually, they’re second Thursdays, but this month, the meeting is today (the fourth Thursday). So, check the website for exact days.

Can’t attend but still have questions? Email info@lakehousonra.com.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 9/24/26

3313 Days since Hurricane Harvey