Demolition of Old Westbound Lanes Begins on Northpark
6/14/25 – In the NorthPark Drive expansion project last week, the traffic switch originally scheduled for 6/6 finally happened on 6/10. Since then, demolition of the old westbound lanes on Northpark between Loop 494 and US59 has begun.
In other Northpark news, contractors are laying rebar in preparation for a concrete pour between Public Storage and Quick Quack Car Wash.
And after an engineering review, Ralph De Leon, the Northpark project manager, says 100% of the water in the Enclave Detention Basin will go south toward the Kingwood Diversion Ditch and that it will not overflow into Northpark.
Finally, CenterPoint has removed an electrical pole that was in the way of boring underneath the UnionPacific Railroad tracks. Contractors have finished the receiving pit west of the tracks and have started boring for the second pipe that will go under the tracks. However, it appears there may be some utility conflicts in the receiving pit west of the tracks.
I took all the pictures below on Saturday, June 14, 2025.
Traffic Switch and Old Lane Demolition
The shot below shows how traffic was diverted from the old westbound lanes in the middle of the frame.

This close shot shows the actual perforations made by what looks like a hydraulic hammer (or giant punch) on the arm of an excavator.

After the old concrete is removed, new culverts will be placed underneath where it was. Then contractors will pour new concrete.
As you can see below, it looks like the perforation stretches halfway from Loop 494 to US59 as of Saturday 6/14/25. LHRA hopes to finish that work this coming week.

Getting Ready for Next Concrete Pour
Contractors have also finished placing rebar in new westbound lanes between the Quick Quack Car Wash and Public Storage.



Enclave Detention Basin Controversy
In a previous post, I noted how construction plans for the Enclave showed its detention basin overflowing into Northpark during extreme rainfall events. That became a concern because one of the main goals for Northpark is to create an all-weather evacuation route for 78,000 people during high-water events.

Montgomery County Precinct 4’s Victoria Bryant said that she was convening a review of the plans by the two engineering companies involved (for Northpark Expansion and the Enclave), the Montgomery County Engineer’s Office and Houston Public Works. She has not yet communicated the outcome of that review.
Separately, the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority/TIRZ 10 conducted its own internal engineering review.
At the LHRA/TIRZ 10 board meeting on 6/12/25, Ralph De Leon, project manager for Northpark expansion stated that “It’s not going to overflow. 100% of the water goes south, ties into Kings Mill, and will go out (to) the Kingwood Diversion Ditch.”
Council Member Fred Flickinger added, “Now, obviously, all of it going into the Diversion Ditch creates another set of issues.”
It’s not clear yet whether the Montgomery County Engineer’s Office reached the same conclusion. No one has explained the reason for the notation on the plans yet.
Meanwhile, Enclave contractors have finished connecting storm sewer pipes to their detention basin.

Bore Under Railroad Tracks
Side-by-side 5-foot steel pipes will carry stormwater under the UnionPacific Railroad tracks from the area west of Loop 494 to the east toward the Diversion Ditch by Flowers of Kingwood.
However, for years, a CenterPoint electricity pole blocked the path. CenterPoint finally removed it last week. That’s good news.

Contractors have also apparently finished the receiving pit west of the tracks where the pipes will tie into a junction box under Loop 494 northbound lanes.
However, the “receiving pit” west of the tracks appears to have some utility conflicts of its own. See below.

Once UnionPacific approves a workaround, LHRA says crews will work 24 hours to finish the bores within two weeks.
As they say in construction, “it’s always something.”
Posted by Bob Rehak on 6/14/25
2846 Days since Hurricane Harvey
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