10/04/24 – At 3 AM this morning, contractors narrowed outbound traffic down to one lane to begin pouring more Northpark concrete west of the entrance to Kings Mill.
It wasn’t the first pour in the two-mile-long project designed to create an all-weather evacuation route from Kingwood. And it won’t be the last. But together with other improvements, one can finally start to see the finished project taking shape.
The pour continued until early afternoon. Elsewhere along Northpark, one could see other workers installing asphalt underlayment for future concrete pours and working on lateral drainage where it ties into culverts down the center of the road.
Next Steps
Contractors are also getting ready to bore under the UnionPacific Railroad Tracks, Loop 494 and Northpark itself. The bore(s) will connect via a series of junction boxes to “Ditch One” behind Public Storage and Dunkin’ Donuts.
From there, the ditch will carry excess stormwater to Ben’s Branch and the Kingwood Diversion Ditch.
Pictures Taken 10/4/24
I took the following pictures of more Northpark concrete being poured around 10 AM this morning.
Grayish areas in center show partially dried and freshly poured concrete from this morning.New concrete now extends west to QuickQuack Car Wash from Kings Mill entrance in both directions.Looking E toward Russell Palmer. Another concrete truck pulls up to unload as men spread and smooth previous loads.Looking W. Fresh asphalt extending west from Russell Palmer will become the base for the next rounds of concrete.
Plans also call for widening 494. It too will become three lanes in each direction. See below.
Looking W toward entry ponds and US59. Note the road bed prep next to the Shell Station and Loop 494.
More Northpark concrete should be poured next Friday – 10/11/24. Again, it will happen between approximately 3 AM and 1 PM and should involve the closure of at least one lane.
Also of note: on the last weekend of October, there will be a full closure of Northpark at the Russel Palmer intersection to place paving across the intersection. This will begin on Friday and completely close the intersection until Monday morning 5AM. Detours will be in place for Russel Palmer traffic.
10/3/24 – For those who missed the meeting in Atascocita earlier this week, Commissioner Tom Ramsey, PE, has scheduled another meeting to explain the thinking behind Harris County Flood Control District’s Proposition A on the November ballot. The tax meeting will be on October 16 between 6:00 PM and 7:30 PM.
The venue will be the Kingwood Community Center, 4102 Rustic Woods Drive, Kingwood, TX 77345. See poster below.
…we haven’t yet gotten much help to reduce flooding from Harris County.
Flooding Vs. Funding
These two charts tell the story.
Chart showing feet above flood stage of 33 gages of misc. bayous in Harris County during Harvey.Humble/Kingwood area at far left.San Jacinto Watershed ranks 13th out of 23 watersheds despite being the county’s largest.
Then the same thing happened with the 2022 bond. The lone Republican precinct (which includes Kingwood) was promised a minimum of $220 million by Democratic commissioners. Then they changed the deal after the election. Again. And shortchanged the lone Republican precinct by almost $50 million.
We’re constantly adding to inventory that needs maintenance
Aging assets require more maintenance
Years ago, Commissioners looted HCFCD funds for the Hospital District
HCFCD could do a better job with more maintenance dollars.
On the other hand, it’s also true that:
The amount of the increase is 63%.
The publicity is all about maintenance. But the ballot language includes operations.
The proposition does not include any commitments about when, where or on what the money will be spent.
There’s nothing to preclude another switcheroo.
Since announcing the completion of Project Brays in May 2022, HCFCD has spent 2.5X more money on Brays Bayou than it has on the entire San Jacinto River Watershed. That’s through the end of 2Q2024 ($26.5 million vs. $10.5 million).
By the way, Democratic Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis lives in the Brays Bayou Watershed.
Commissioner Ramsey is a fair and honest man. He fights hard for us in every Commissioner’s Court meeting. He’s just outnumbered.
I will see you at the tax meeting. Come with an open mind.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 10/3/24
2592 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Flood-Control-Prop-A-Flyer-UPDATE.jpg?fit=1545%2C2000&ssl=120001545adminadmin2024-10-03 18:44:292024-10-03 18:44:30Save the Date: HCFCD Tax Meeting Scheduled for Kingwood on Oct. 16
10/2/24 – The Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority/TIRZ 10 has announced that it will reduce Northpark Drive outbound traffic to one lane Friday (10/4/24) from about 3AM to 1PM. Contractors will be pouring concrete next to existing lanes. Crews need part of one lane for both construction work and their safety.
Men will spread and smooth new concrete from the old roadway as they previously did in eastbound lanes two weeks ago.
The work will take place between Loop 494 and Russell Palmer Road. Currently crews are preparing the base with asphalt. They should be ready to create a rebar grid on all of part of the asphalt areas beginning tomorrow.
Another concrete pour is scheduled for the following Friday, 10/11/24, weather permitting.
Pictures of Progress
Below are pictures of the project’s progress since my last post in mid-September.
Looking ESE toward Russell Palmer intersection in upper left. Note new asphalt between inbound and outbound lanes. Looking WSW. Note: concrete for part of one westbound lane has already been poured to roughly Italiano’s.Looking at previous pours and area where new pour will extend past Kings Mill Entrance.Looking W.Area in front of Kings Mill entrance has already been completed on south side. Workers are removing forms. Forms have already been installed over asphalt on north side, but no rebar yet. Looking W toward 59 in background. More drainage work is underway on both north and south sides of Norpark.Looking W toward Russell Palmer from in front of Calvary Churchat new blacktop.Looking W at workers laying asphalt on both north and south sides of median over the drainage culverts.
Remember: the road will widen inward, not outward except near the bridge.
Visible Progress Accelerating
Contractors have completed most, but not all, of the underground drainage work at this point. They still have to:
Complete drainage from Loop 494 to US59
Build surface lanes that will parallel the new bridge over Loop 494.
Tunnel under the railroad tracks to install drainage that will convey stormwater from entry ponds to “Ditch One” behind the businesses that line the north side of Northpark.
Connect all the pieces of the drainage system.
But the lion’s share of underground work – the most difficult part of road construction – has finished.
Now contractors are focused on pavement that people can actually see. And it’s moving along rapidly thanks to cooperative weather.
Before then, though, contractors are returning dirt to the site that had been excavated and stored temporarily during installation of the culverts. They will then prepare the raised areas for future concrete pours by installing a base of asphalt and a grid of rebar.
The long-term vision for the thoroughfare is to create an all-weather access road that will facilitate both evacuation and growth. The six lanes will have the width of freeway lanes. A bridge will carry those six lanes of traffic over Loop 494. And four additional surface turn lanes will be built near the bridge. They will let traffic turn left and right from each of the four directions.
The extra runoff will be stored in stormwater retention basins that bracket the expansion project at 59.
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241002-DJI_20241002161256_0915_D.jpg?fit=1100%2C619&ssl=16191100adminadmin2024-10-02 18:41:132024-10-02 18:54:33Northpark Reduced to One Outbound Lane Friday Morning
More Northpark Concrete Poured Today; Expansion Update
10/04/24 – At 3 AM this morning, contractors narrowed outbound traffic down to one lane to begin pouring more Northpark concrete west of the entrance to Kings Mill.
It wasn’t the first pour in the two-mile-long project designed to create an all-weather evacuation route from Kingwood. And it won’t be the last. But together with other improvements, one can finally start to see the finished project taking shape.
The pour continued until early afternoon. Elsewhere along Northpark, one could see other workers installing asphalt underlayment for future concrete pours and working on lateral drainage where it ties into culverts down the center of the road.
Next Steps
Contractors are also getting ready to bore under the UnionPacific Railroad Tracks, Loop 494 and Northpark itself. The bore(s) will connect via a series of junction boxes to “Ditch One” behind Public Storage and Dunkin’ Donuts.
From there, the ditch will carry excess stormwater to Ben’s Branch and the Kingwood Diversion Ditch.
Pictures Taken 10/4/24
I took the following pictures of more Northpark concrete being poured around 10 AM this morning.
Plans also call for widening 494. It too will become three lanes in each direction. See below.
More Northpark concrete should be poured next Friday – 10/11/24. Again, it will happen between approximately 3 AM and 1 PM and should involve the closure of at least one lane.
Also of note: on the last weekend of October, there will be a full closure of Northpark at the Russel Palmer intersection to place paving across the intersection. This will begin on Friday and completely close the intersection until Monday morning 5AM. Detours will be in place for Russel Palmer traffic.
For More Information
Consult the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority project pages including a new 3-week lookahead schedule posted today.
For a history of the project and its goals, see these ReduceFlooding posts:
Posted by Bob Rehak on 10/4/24
2593 Days since Hurricane Harvey
Save the Date: HCFCD Tax Meeting Scheduled for Kingwood on Oct. 16
10/3/24 – For those who missed the meeting in Atascocita earlier this week, Commissioner Tom Ramsey, PE, has scheduled another meeting to explain the thinking behind Harris County Flood Control District’s Proposition A on the November ballot. The tax meeting will be on October 16 between 6:00 PM and 7:30 PM.
The venue will be the Kingwood Community Center, 4102 Rustic Woods Drive, Kingwood, TX 77345. See poster below.
Why Tax Meeting is Important
Since Hurricane Harvey, the specter of flooding has cast a cloud over Kingwood’s future. Despite Kingwood residents:
…we haven’t yet gotten much help to reduce flooding from Harris County.
Flooding Vs. Funding
These two charts tell the story.
Shortly after the 2018 flood bond passed, Democratic commissioners changed the “worst first” deal.
Then the same thing happened with the 2022 bond. The lone Republican precinct (which includes Kingwood) was promised a minimum of $220 million by Democratic commissioners. Then they changed the deal after the election. Again. And shortchanged the lone Republican precinct by almost $50 million.
Will It Happen Again?
Go to the meeting and ask some tough questions.
I have mixed emotions about HCFCD Proposition A.
On one hand, it’s true that:
On the other hand, it’s also true that:
By the way, Democratic Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis lives in the Brays Bayou Watershed.
Commissioner Ramsey is a fair and honest man. He fights hard for us in every Commissioner’s Court meeting. He’s just outnumbered.
I will see you at the tax meeting. Come with an open mind.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 10/3/24
2592 Days since Hurricane Harvey
Northpark Reduced to One Outbound Lane Friday Morning
10/2/24 – The Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority/TIRZ 10 has announced that it will reduce Northpark Drive outbound traffic to one lane Friday (10/4/24) from about 3AM to 1PM. Contractors will be pouring concrete next to existing lanes. Crews need part of one lane for both construction work and their safety.
Men will spread and smooth new concrete from the old roadway as they previously did in eastbound lanes two weeks ago.
The work will take place between Loop 494 and Russell Palmer Road. Currently crews are preparing the base with asphalt. They should be ready to create a rebar grid on all of part of the asphalt areas beginning tomorrow.
Another concrete pour is scheduled for the following Friday, 10/11/24, weather permitting.
Pictures of Progress
Below are pictures of the project’s progress since my last post in mid-September.
Remember: the road will widen inward, not outward except near the bridge.
Visible Progress Accelerating
Contractors have completed most, but not all, of the underground drainage work at this point. They still have to:
But the lion’s share of underground work – the most difficult part of road construction – has finished.
Now contractors are focused on pavement that people can actually see. And it’s moving along rapidly thanks to cooperative weather.
The project paving plan and the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority website indicate they will attempt to complete a 1680 stretch of westbound lane on Friday. Additional segments will follow.
Before then, though, contractors are returning dirt to the site that had been excavated and stored temporarily during installation of the culverts. They will then prepare the raised areas for future concrete pours by installing a base of asphalt and a grid of rebar.
Here’s a schedule posted yesterday for the next three weeks.
Vision
The long-term vision for the thoroughfare is to create an all-weather access road that will facilitate both evacuation and growth. The six lanes will have the width of freeway lanes. A bridge will carry those six lanes of traffic over Loop 494. And four additional surface turn lanes will be built near the bridge. They will let traffic turn left and right from each of the four directions.
The extra runoff will be stored in stormwater retention basins that bracket the expansion project at 59.
For More Information
The posts below contain a history of the project.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 10/2/24
2591 Days since Hurricane Harvey