The new Kingwood Middle School is now being “glassed in,” at least the portions that are not brick. The glass will seal the interior from the weather outside and let new sets of contractors begin their work. Those include interior trades such as electricians, plumbers, painters, drywall, flooring and ceiling specialists. Since my last update on November 10, the contractors have made much progress. According to Humble ISD, the new school should open next August.
Once contractors have sealed the structure, the schedule no longer depends on weather and they can move much more quickly.
Multiple trades can work simultaneously in different parts of the building.
Progress in Photos
Here are pictures taken on 12/5/2021 that show the current status.
Approximately half of the exterior that will receive glass is already glassed in.
One of the entries. Exterior on right has not yet begun.
New Kingwood Middle School from over Woodland Hills Drive. The old school, right, will be torn down after this school year finishes.
Brickwork and roofing on the western portion of the building are almost complete. Some scaffolding remains for stonemasons on the opposite side of the building.
Construction moved from west to east. The eastern portions of the exteriors and roofing (right) are less finished.
Looking north to south. Once the old school is demolished (top of frame), athletic fields will be re-established in that area along with a permanent detention pond.
Looking SE at new Kingwood Middle School construction
The southeastern portion of the new Kingwood Middle School on Cedar Knolls still has a long way to go.
To compare previous monthly updates, search for “Kingwood Middle School”.
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/20211205-DJI_0943.jpg?fit=1200%2C799&ssl=17991200adminadmin2021-12-05 20:29:302021-12-05 20:29:34December Update: Kingwood Middle School Being “Glassed In”
TxDOT’s Grand Parkway extension (a.k.a. State Highway 99) is rapidly moving east and south toward I-10. As it arcs around the northeast quadrant of the Houston Metro Area, it will open up vast new areas to development. Below is a map showing several already under development.
Yesterday, as I was photographing different areas near Huffman and New Caney near the San Jacinto East Fork, I captured these shots of the Grand Parkway extension and FM1485. The Grand Parkway is still under construction in this area, but it’s rapidly getting there.
SH99 and FM 1485, looking northeast toward Colony Ridge and Liberty County.SH 99 and FM 1485 looking north with San Jacinto East Fork running through middle of frame from top to bottom.SH 99 and FM 1485 Looking east over San Jacinto East Fork
I’ve taken shots of this area before and am fascinated by the difference in the spans of the bridges. Part of what you’re seeing is the difference between standards for Farm-to-Market Roads and State Highways. But you’re also looking at the consequence of an increase in expected rainfall rates, more upstream development, and learning from experience. FM1485 frequently goes under water nowadays.
Detention Pond under Bridge: Permanent?
One of the curious things I noticed yesterday was a large detention or sediment retention pond under the bridge. TxDOT has rerouted the East Fork around it as you can see in the first and second photos. I wonder if they will keep it as a large detention pond under the freeway when they complete construction. Or whether they will return the river to its normal course and plant trees between the two roads as you see in the distance.
Stay Away During Construction
Traffic detours through this area are a nightmare. Stay away if you can. It took me an hour to get from here to Kingwood yesterday via 1485, 494 and US59 at 2:30 pm. The distance: only 7 miles as the crow flies.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 12/4/2021
1558 Days since Hurricane Harvey and 776 since Imelda
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/20211203-DJI_0936.jpg?fit=1200%2C799&ssl=17991200adminadmin2021-12-04 21:06:442021-12-04 21:06:47Grand Parkway Extension is Getting There
Dredging Location as of 10/12/2021. East Fork at Mouth of Luce Bayou on right.From here, pontoons ferry the spoils back to the West Fork opposite Kingwood’s River Grove Park.East Fork Dredging as of 12/3/2021. Photo taken from Huffman side of river looking SW toward Royal Shores and the FM 1960 Bridge in the distance.
Since then, the dredgers have managed to remove about 300 feet of the tip of one sandbar blocking the mouth of Luce Bayou and Red Gully (on the left in the shot above).
Looking upstream. Lots of dredging left to do. Between Harvey and Imelda, the sandbars in this area grew approximately 4000 feet.
Note the sediment plume in the middle of the boat’s wake above. That indicates the shallowness of the river.
According to boater Josh Alberson, the depth through this reach of the river was reduced from 17 feet to about three feet between Harvey and Imelda.
Dredging: A Conveyance Issue
The dredging is far more than a recreational issue. The decreased conveyance of the river creates a sediment dam than backs water up and contributes to the flooding of homes. In fact, I passed by dozens of flooded and abandoned homes while looking for a place to launch my drone.
Mechanical Vs. Hydraulic Dredging
One can only wonder whether the City of Houston is using the right tools for the job. Even Stephen Costello, Houston’s Chief Recovery Officer, called mechanical dredging “unsustainable in the long run” when he addressed a crowd at the Kingwood Community Center on July 9.
But it may come down to a case of slow-go or no-go.
I asked a friend in the dredging business to estimate the costs of mechanical vs. hydraulic dredging. He qualified the discussion by saying that:
To even consider hydraulic dredging you need a pit to pump the material into.
He also suggested that to reduce long-term overhead costs, you want to be able to use the equipment year round and create a perpetual dredging program.
He said the ideal would be to go once around the lake and arrive back at the beginning when it was time to start all over again.
That said, he estimated that hydraulic dredging was 10X faster and one third to one fourth the cost of mechanical dredging.
With hydraulic dredging, the upfront equipment and setup costs are far higher. Mechanical dredging is far slower and more expensive.
I won’t pretend that I have the answer to the question of which is better in this case: mechanical or hydraulic.
Vendor for Long-Range Dredging Plan Due to Be Selected This Month
The submission deadline for vendors bidding on a long range dredging plan for Lake Houston was 9/23. The Request for Qualifications stated that the City hoped to put contract approval on the City Council Agenda for December and start the contract in January. The selected vendor will have two years to complete the dredging plan.
It could easily take that long to finish the East Fork Mouth Bar at the current rate.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 12/3/2021
1557 Days since Hurricane Harvey and 775 since Imelda
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/20211203-DJI_0925.jpg?fit=1200%2C799&ssl=17991200adminadmin2021-12-03 18:28:162021-12-04 07:27:39Slow-Go: East Fork Dredging Still at Mouth of Luce Bayou
December Update: Kingwood Middle School Being “Glassed In”
The new Kingwood Middle School is now being “glassed in,” at least the portions that are not brick. The glass will seal the interior from the weather outside and let new sets of contractors begin their work. Those include interior trades such as electricians, plumbers, painters, drywall, flooring and ceiling specialists. Since my last update on November 10, the contractors have made much progress. According to Humble ISD, the new school should open next August.
Multiple trades can work simultaneously in different parts of the building.
Progress in Photos
Here are pictures taken on 12/5/2021 that show the current status.
To compare previous monthly updates, search for “Kingwood Middle School”.
It was only a year ago that this site was nothing more than dirt and a dream.
To see architectural renderings of the new building when complete, see this page on Humble ISD’s web site.
Posted by Bob Rehak on December 5, 2021
1559 Days since Hurricane Harvey
Grand Parkway Extension is Getting There
TxDOT’s Grand Parkway extension (a.k.a. State Highway 99) is rapidly moving east and south toward I-10. As it arcs around the northeast quadrant of the Houston Metro Area, it will open up vast new areas to development. Below is a map showing several already under development.
New Developments Already Under Way
East Fork Crossing: Tale of Two Bridges
Yesterday, as I was photographing different areas near Huffman and New Caney near the San Jacinto East Fork, I captured these shots of the Grand Parkway extension and FM1485. The Grand Parkway is still under construction in this area, but it’s rapidly getting there.
In March, this Grand Parkway in this area was nothing but dirt. By June, they were clearing land down to the Luce Bayou InterBasin Transfer Canal. Now it’s concrete as far as the eye can see. At least from the East Fork.
I’ve taken shots of this area before and am fascinated by the difference in the spans of the bridges. Part of what you’re seeing is the difference between standards for Farm-to-Market Roads and State Highways. But you’re also looking at the consequence of an increase in expected rainfall rates, more upstream development, and learning from experience. FM1485 frequently goes under water nowadays.
Detention Pond under Bridge: Permanent?
One of the curious things I noticed yesterday was a large detention or sediment retention pond under the bridge. TxDOT has rerouted the East Fork around it as you can see in the first and second photos. I wonder if they will keep it as a large detention pond under the freeway when they complete construction. Or whether they will return the river to its normal course and plant trees between the two roads as you see in the distance.
Stay Away During Construction
Traffic detours through this area are a nightmare. Stay away if you can. It took me an hour to get from here to Kingwood yesterday via 1485, 494 and US59 at 2:30 pm. The distance: only 7 miles as the crow flies.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 12/4/2021
1558 Days since Hurricane Harvey and 776 since Imelda
Slow-Go: East Fork Dredging Still at Mouth of Luce Bayou
In July, the City announced it was wrapping up West Fork dredging and starting on East Fork dredging. It took three months for the dredgers to dredge their way through the Royal Shores channel before they could even start on the East Fork. Since then, it’s been a slow-go as round trip travel times to the placement area get longer.
Since then, the dredgers have managed to remove about 300 feet of the tip of one sandbar blocking the mouth of Luce Bayou and Red Gully (on the left in the shot above).
Note the sediment plume in the middle of the boat’s wake above. That indicates the shallowness of the river.
According to boater Josh Alberson, the depth through this reach of the river was reduced from 17 feet to about three feet between Harvey and Imelda.
Dredging: A Conveyance Issue
The dredging is far more than a recreational issue. The decreased conveyance of the river creates a sediment dam than backs water up and contributes to the flooding of homes. In fact, I passed by dozens of flooded and abandoned homes while looking for a place to launch my drone.
Mechanical Vs. Hydraulic Dredging
One can only wonder whether the City of Houston is using the right tools for the job. Even Stephen Costello, Houston’s Chief Recovery Officer, called mechanical dredging “unsustainable in the long run” when he addressed a crowd at the Kingwood Community Center on July 9.
But it may come down to a case of slow-go or no-go.
I asked a friend in the dredging business to estimate the costs of mechanical vs. hydraulic dredging. He qualified the discussion by saying that:
He said the ideal would be to go once around the lake and arrive back at the beginning when it was time to start all over again.
With hydraulic dredging, the upfront equipment and setup costs are far higher. Mechanical dredging is far slower and more expensive.
This website has an excellent discussion about seven factors that drive dredging costs.
I won’t pretend that I have the answer to the question of which is better in this case: mechanical or hydraulic.
Vendor for Long-Range Dredging Plan Due to Be Selected This Month
The submission deadline for vendors bidding on a long range dredging plan for Lake Houston was 9/23. The Request for Qualifications stated that the City hoped to put contract approval on the City Council Agenda for December and start the contract in January. The selected vendor will have two years to complete the dredging plan.
It could easily take that long to finish the East Fork Mouth Bar at the current rate.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 12/3/2021
1557 Days since Hurricane Harvey and 775 since Imelda