8/8/24 – In the last year, the Northpark Drive expansion project hit several snags. But one by one, project partners seem to be overcoming the hurdles.
Contractors discovered utility poles and gas lines in their way. Permits to bore under the railroad and bridge over it took longer than expected. Delays forced changes in plans to keep crews busy. And eventually, when project managers ran out of alternative options, contractors had to shift crews to other jobs.
After months of delays that hampered progress, hope is finally on the horizon.
Paving the Way for Faster Progress
The pace of construction could soon accelerate again.
CenterPoint has moved all of its facilities east of Loop 494 and only a few conflicts are left west of 494.
Entergy is almost done removing its east-to-west poles at Northpark/494. This will let contractors complete the storm water drainage system, construct new feeder roads, and build at-grade vehicle crossings over the rail tracks.
Comcast, Tachus, AT&T, PS Lightwave, MCI, Optimum, BrightSpeed, and Crown Castle have either finished relocating their facilities, submitted relocation plans under review at the City, or received Permits for relocation. In the last case, they have also provided schedules to the TIRZ
A new water main will allow service to be transferred from Porter SUD to City of Houston. This same water main also serves the newly installed fire hydrants along Northpark.
Contractors and UnionPacific have resolved right-of-way issues. Work should start on the rail crossings later this year.
Project managers have acquired additional rights of way from private property owners
Alternate plans are in place for rerouting traffic
Entergy has submitted Plans for permits that will let them bury their power lines west of 494 and underneath the railroad tracks on Northpark Drive.
Most of these changes, while barely visible, are highly critical.
Improved Working Relationship with Entergy
Project Manager Ralph De Leon predicts motorists could soon see visible progress. Brian Garcia, Entergy’s customer service manager, agrees.
Both men cite an improved working relationship. Weekly meetings between their teams have reportedly resolved most technical, permitting, and scheduling issues.
Next Steps
Harper brothers has finished burying culvert down the center of Northpark. Now the company will begin installing culvert on the north side of the street westward. It will eventually connect to the system at Self-U-Storage.
Looking west at extent of culvert installation. From here, culvert will move north/right to make room for surface turn lanes and a bridge over the railroad tracks and Loop 494.
The next leg will go under the railroad tracks and Loop 494. It will connect the eastern and western sections of the storm water drainage system.
In general, the next major steps for the Northpark Drive Expansion include:
Shifting westbound traffic toward the center
Burying drainage culverts on the north side of the street.
Building permanent access roads on the north.
Shifting traffic back to the permanent lanes.
Keep your fingers and tire jacks crossed. Working out many of these unforeseen issues delayed the project 188 days so far. The delays also forced Harper Brothers Construction to divert some of its crews to other jobs to keep them busy.
Photos of Work to Date and In Progress
Crews today worked on bringing power to new, temporary traffic signal locations.
Crews worked on three of the four corners of Northpark and Loop 494. Old power lines on the fourth corner (lower right) were previously de-energized and poles topped. Comcast will reportedly move its cable on those poles next week.Crews are also spreading and compacting dirt over installed culverts.(Looking W toward US59)Ditto in the opposite direction.Looking east toward Diversion Ditch.
The thoughts expressed in this post represent opinions on matters of public concern and safety. They are protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution and the Anti-SLAPP Statute of the Great State of Texas.
Today, Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, M.D., announced the Texas General Land Office (GLO) has rebuilt its 2000th home – in Houston and Harris County alone – since Hurricane Harvey. Many more projects are under construction or in the approval process here and in other counties throughout Texas..
Dawn Buckingham MD, GLO Commissioner congratulates the homeowners (center) as she turns over the key. Builder is on left.
GLO rebuilt the home through its Homeowner Assistance Programs (HAP) as part of ongoing recovery efforts. One of the GLO’s missions is to restore and rebuild communities across Texas after natural disasters. Just last year, GLO celebrated the rebuilding of 1000 homes in Houston/Harris County.
Rebuilding Lives, Not Just Homes
The GLO certainly isn’t resting on its laurels. Buckingham said, “This milestone represents more than just a number. It reflects the dedication and hard work of the GLO’s disaster recovery team and our commitment to helping Texas families rebuild their lives after the devastation of Hurricane Harvey and other disasters.
Buckingham (Left) and Mike Nichols (Right), new director of Houston Housing and Community Development, tour new home with ecstatic owners, Argelis and James Sapio (Center).
Hurricane Harvey Homeowner Assistance Program
The GLO’s Homeowner Assistance Program is funded by $2 billion in Community Development Block Grants for Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The program helps homeowners repair, rebuild, and, in some cases, elevate their homes to mitigate future flood risks.
Army Vet and Teacher
The homeowners, James and Argelis Sapio, have been married 47 years and lived in the same house for 27 of those. A U.S. Army veteran, James served in war zones around the world starting in Vietnam and ending in Eastern Europe. Argelis, taught at a neighborhood elementary school
They loved their home and the location. But it flooded repeatedly with increasing frequency. Over time, the flooding got worse as neighbors built their lots up. Reportedly illegal dumping also complicated flooding issues when it backed water up in ditches. The final straw was Hurricane Harvey. A foot of floodwater invaded the Sapio’s home.
They persisted through a daunting application for aid that the GLO, HUD and City are trying to streamline. Four months ago, construction of a new home started on their old lot. The elevated design should make them safe from flooding. It includes ramps to make access easier.
The 2000th home. Note elevation and ramp.
Said Argelis (with a smile), “Now the only thing we have to worry about is elevating our cars.”
Construction took four months. During that time, the couple lived in motels. They were so eager to move in, they weren’t going to wait for the movers. Argelis said they were going to bring a mattress in tonight and sleep on the floor if they had to.
Ongoing Commitment to Disaster Recovery
Altogether, the GLO has rebuilt more than 8,000 homes in 49 counties designated eligible by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Commissioner Buckingham reaffirmed the agency’s ongoing dedication to disaster recovery and preparedness as the GLO celebrates this achievement. “The GLO remains steadfast in supporting Texans as they rebuild and recover,” said Buckingham. “Together, we will continue to work towards a more resilient Texas.”
For a one-minute YouTube video of the ceremony and tour of the house, click here.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/7/24
2535 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240807-RJR_3814.jpg?fit=1100%2C733&ssl=17331100adminadmin2024-08-07 17:52:172024-08-07 18:30:58GLO Rebuilds Its 2000th Home in Houston, Harris County
8/6/24 – During Beryl in July, the San Jacinto West Fork continued to run through at least three abandoned sand pits. Mining companies still own two. A third has been sold to a residential developer for unknown purposes.
The river captured the pits earlier this year. “River capture” is a term used by geologists when floodwater breaks through a dike on one side of a pit and then bursts out the opposite site. That effectively reroutes the river. The phenomenon usually takes place in pits on a point bar and shortens the distance water must travel around them.
Sold by Hallett to Riverwalk Porter LLC
Hallett sold a 200-acre pit on the west side of the San Jacinto West Fork to Riverwalk Porter LLC shortly before the January floods this year. It was great timing for Hallett; not so great for the developer. See below.
West Fork, upper left, enters a 200-acre pit (left) that Hallett sold to Riverwalk Porter LLC shortly before the pit capture.Note how the normal riverbed is now blocked by sand. 8/6/24.At the south end of the same pit, the river re-enters its normal channel.8/6/24.
If Riverwalk Porter LLC planned to use this pit for stormwater detention, that will no longer work. They would be pumping water directly into the river.
Second Pit Still Owned by Hallett
A little farther north, the river cuts through another pit. Hallett still owns this one. The southern end of this pit (bottom of frame below) was left open for years until the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) made Hallett fix it.
Now it’s open again…but on two sides. And the TCEQ has not yet taken action. I first observed this opening after May floods.’
Looking North. West Fork now cuts straight through the pit rather than going around it via its normal channel.8/6/24.Closer shot of bypassed channel at same pit.8/6/24.
Williams Brother Pit
Just south of White Sands Drive in Porter, Williams Brothers abandoned a pit after Harvey. The company still owns the property. However they show no signs of re-establishing an eroded dike.
A narrow berm used to seal the pit off from the river at the top of the frame. The berm eroded during January floods then disappeared in May floods this year.
With the river now flowing into the mine, it is starting to erode a channel out of the mine.
Williams Brothers Mine after Beryl. Photo taken 7/9/24. River flows toward foreground.
In fairness, when the river is lower, the channel in the foreground does not yet convey water all the way back to the river.
Abandoned Pits Becoming Bigger Problem
At least four other companies have abandoned pits on the West Fork in recent years that represent potential issues:
I’ve been talking lately to residents neighboring these facilities. They worry about flooding related to the mines and how that can undermine their property values.
One resident that I interviewed today talked about growing up on the river before Lake Conroe, sand mining and his property flooding. He talked about clear water, abundant fish and plentiful wildlife.
I’ve been researching best practices for sand-mine abandonment and have some thoughts that I will share on the subject in coming days. I’m not sure we can get back to the way it was in the 1960s, but we can definitely do better. Check back in the coming days.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/6/2024
2534 Days since Hurricane Harvey and 29 since Beryl
The thoughts expressed in this post represent opinions on matters of public concern and safety. They are protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution and the Anti-SLAPP Statute of the Great State of Texas.
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240806-DJI_20240806112047_0506_D.jpg?fit=1100%2C619&ssl=16191100adminadmin2024-08-06 21:32:422024-08-06 21:39:12West Fork Still Running Through Sand Pits
Northpark Drive Expansion Project Overcoming Hurdles
8/8/24 – In the last year, the Northpark Drive expansion project hit several snags. But one by one, project partners seem to be overcoming the hurdles.
Contractors discovered utility poles and gas lines in their way. Permits to bore under the railroad and bridge over it took longer than expected. Delays forced changes in plans to keep crews busy. And eventually, when project managers ran out of alternative options, contractors had to shift crews to other jobs.
After months of delays that hampered progress, hope is finally on the horizon.
Paving the Way for Faster Progress
The pace of construction could soon accelerate again.
Most of these changes, while barely visible, are highly critical.
Improved Working Relationship with Entergy
Project Manager Ralph De Leon predicts motorists could soon see visible progress. Brian Garcia, Entergy’s customer service manager, agrees.
Both men cite an improved working relationship. Weekly meetings between their teams have reportedly resolved most technical, permitting, and scheduling issues.
Next Steps
Harper brothers has finished burying culvert down the center of Northpark. Now the company will begin installing culvert on the north side of the street westward. It will eventually connect to the system at Self-U-Storage.
The next leg will go under the railroad tracks and Loop 494. It will connect the eastern and western sections of the storm water drainage system.
In general, the next major steps for the Northpark Drive Expansion include:
Keep your fingers and tire jacks crossed. Working out many of these unforeseen issues delayed the project 188 days so far. The delays also forced Harper Brothers Construction to divert some of its crews to other jobs to keep them busy.
Photos of Work to Date and In Progress
Crews today worked on bringing power to new, temporary traffic signal locations.
Upcoming Construction Schedule
To look ahead at planned Northpark Drive expansion activities for the next few weeks, see a schedule on the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority project page.
For More Information
For more information about Northpark Drive expansion and a history of the project, see these posts on ReduceFlooding.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/8/24
2536 Days since Hurricane Harvey
The thoughts expressed in this post represent opinions on matters of public concern and safety. They are protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution and the Anti-SLAPP Statute of the Great State of Texas.
GLO Rebuilds Its 2000th Home in Houston, Harris County
Today, Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, M.D., announced the Texas General Land Office (GLO) has rebuilt its 2000th home – in Houston and Harris County alone – since Hurricane Harvey. Many more projects are under construction or in the approval process here and in other counties throughout Texas..
GLO rebuilt the home through its Homeowner Assistance Programs (HAP) as part of ongoing recovery efforts. One of the GLO’s missions is to restore and rebuild communities across Texas after natural disasters. Just last year, GLO celebrated the rebuilding of 1000 homes in Houston/Harris County.
Rebuilding Lives, Not Just Homes
The GLO certainly isn’t resting on its laurels. Buckingham said, “This milestone represents more than just a number. It reflects the dedication and hard work of the GLO’s disaster recovery team and our commitment to helping Texas families rebuild their lives after the devastation of Hurricane Harvey and other disasters.
Hurricane Harvey Homeowner Assistance Program
The GLO’s Homeowner Assistance Program is funded by $2 billion in Community Development Block Grants for Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The program helps homeowners repair, rebuild, and, in some cases, elevate their homes to mitigate future flood risks.
Army Vet and Teacher
The homeowners, James and Argelis Sapio, have been married 47 years and lived in the same house for 27 of those. A U.S. Army veteran, James served in war zones around the world starting in Vietnam and ending in Eastern Europe. Argelis, taught at a neighborhood elementary school
They loved their home and the location. But it flooded repeatedly with increasing frequency. Over time, the flooding got worse as neighbors built their lots up. Reportedly illegal dumping also complicated flooding issues when it backed water up in ditches. The final straw was Hurricane Harvey. A foot of floodwater invaded the Sapio’s home.
They persisted through a daunting application for aid that the GLO, HUD and City are trying to streamline. Four months ago, construction of a new home started on their old lot. The elevated design should make them safe from flooding. It includes ramps to make access easier.
Said Argelis (with a smile), “Now the only thing we have to worry about is elevating our cars.”
Construction took four months. During that time, the couple lived in motels. They were so eager to move in, they weren’t going to wait for the movers. Argelis said they were going to bring a mattress in tonight and sleep on the floor if they had to.
Ongoing Commitment to Disaster Recovery
Altogether, the GLO has rebuilt more than 8,000 homes in 49 counties designated eligible by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Commissioner Buckingham reaffirmed the agency’s ongoing dedication to disaster recovery and preparedness as the GLO celebrates this achievement. “The GLO remains steadfast in supporting Texans as they rebuild and recover,” said Buckingham. “Together, we will continue to work towards a more resilient Texas.”
For a one-minute YouTube video of the ceremony and tour of the house, click here.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/7/24
2535 Days since Hurricane Harvey
West Fork Still Running Through Sand Pits
8/6/24 – During Beryl in July, the San Jacinto West Fork continued to run through at least three abandoned sand pits. Mining companies still own two. A third has been sold to a residential developer for unknown purposes.
The river captured the pits earlier this year. “River capture” is a term used by geologists when floodwater breaks through a dike on one side of a pit and then bursts out the opposite site. That effectively reroutes the river. The phenomenon usually takes place in pits on a point bar and shortens the distance water must travel around them.
Sold by Hallett to Riverwalk Porter LLC
Hallett sold a 200-acre pit on the west side of the San Jacinto West Fork to Riverwalk Porter LLC shortly before the January floods this year. It was great timing for Hallett; not so great for the developer. See below.
If Riverwalk Porter LLC planned to use this pit for stormwater detention, that will no longer work. They would be pumping water directly into the river.
Second Pit Still Owned by Hallett
A little farther north, the river cuts through another pit. Hallett still owns this one. The southern end of this pit (bottom of frame below) was left open for years until the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) made Hallett fix it.
Now it’s open again…but on two sides. And the TCEQ has not yet taken action. I first observed this opening after May floods.’
Williams Brother Pit
Just south of White Sands Drive in Porter, Williams Brothers abandoned a pit after Harvey. The company still owns the property. However they show no signs of re-establishing an eroded dike.
A narrow berm used to seal the pit off from the river at the top of the frame. The berm eroded during January floods then disappeared in May floods this year.
With the river now flowing into the mine, it is starting to erode a channel out of the mine.
In fairness, when the river is lower, the channel in the foreground does not yet convey water all the way back to the river.
Abandoned Pits Becoming Bigger Problem
At least four other companies have abandoned pits on the West Fork in recent years that represent potential issues:
What to Do?
I’ve been talking lately to residents neighboring these facilities. They worry about flooding related to the mines and how that can undermine their property values.
One resident that I interviewed today talked about growing up on the river before Lake Conroe, sand mining and his property flooding. He talked about clear water, abundant fish and plentiful wildlife.
I’ve been researching best practices for sand-mine abandonment and have some thoughts that I will share on the subject in coming days. I’m not sure we can get back to the way it was in the 1960s, but we can definitely do better. Check back in the coming days.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/6/2024
2534 Days since Hurricane Harvey and 29 since Beryl
The thoughts expressed in this post represent opinions on matters of public concern and safety. They are protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution and the Anti-SLAPP Statute of the Great State of Texas.