Tag Archive for: northpark

Northpark Contractors Pouring Concrete Again

1/14/2026 – After the holidays, Northpark contractors placed rebar in many gaps along Northpark where concrete had not yet been poured. And today the concrete trucks were out in force, filling those gaps.

Contractors were also hard at work on drainage connections under Loop 494. Once those connections are completed, the last remaining segments of concrete can be poured and 494 will be complete.

That will leave the bridge over 494 and the Union Pacific railroad tracks to build. But before that can happen, UPRR needs to move the signals to the new crossings. See more below.

Concrete Pours

I took all pictures below on 1/14/26 at around 11 AM. Most of the new concrete being poured this morning was between Sherwin Williams and Dairy Queen.

Looking west toward Loop 494 at a parade of concrete trucks lined up. By 11AM, several hundred feet had already been poured and leveled.
Close up from previous shot. Workers tightly coordinate to get the concrete down, spread, leveled and smoothed before it starts to harden.
Farther east, Phase I is virtually complete with the exception of several driveways and sidewalks on the north side (Left).
Higher angle from closer to Russell-Palmer Road, still looking east toward east end of project.
Reverse angle looking west shows where sidewalks currently end on north side of street (right).

Drainage Connections at Loop 494

At Loop 494, contractors were working on both the northwest and southeast corners to complete drainage and sanitary connections.

Looking E at 494 intersection. Note excavation work on the opposite corners.

The current construction schedule posted on the TIRZ website, shows that contractors will demolish the existing east bound lanes (center-right above) on Friday and Saturday nights, 1/23 and 1/24.

The junction box connecting the bore under the tracks still needs to be connected to drainage under Loop 494 coming from the entry ponds at US59.

Re-Alignment of Railroad Crossing Signals

Before contractors build new surface lanes across the tracks and build the bridge, UPRR must move and rewire its traffic signals which currently close across the old lanes (right above).

The signals and crossing gates must be set to guard the new crossings (bottom and top right) rather than the old lanes in the middle.

Ralph DeLeon, TIRZ project manager says that he hopes UPRR will be able to get to the cross-signal issue in early February.

Until the TIRZ resolves that issue and pushes the new surface lanes across the track, it cannot build the bridge. There would be no way for traffic to get across the tracks.

Remaining Gaps

In the meantime, Northpark contractors will have to focus on filling in the remaining gaps.

Looking W from over 59. Note fresh concrete in sidewalk on right. It must still be connected to sidewalks farther east.

Once the drainage on both sides of Loop 494 is connected, contractors must clean out the ditch that runs from Public Storage behind the businesses north of Northpark down to Bens Branch. Then the drainage will be fully operational from east to west.

But contractors must also to finish excavating the lakes on either side of the entry above.

Father west, between Whataburger and Loop 494 at top of frame, contractors must sink piers for bridge in center.

Note at the bottom of the picture above, the full 12 lanes that Northpark will become in this area compared to the current four.

Loop 494 can finally be completed once drainage under it is connected.
Underlayment, rebar and concrete remain for the surface lanes on the north side of Northpark by Self U and Public Storage.
The entrance to Kings Mill is currently scheduled for completion before the end of January.

For More Information

When complete, this will be the first all-weather evacuation route from Kingwood for 78,000 people.

For additional forward-looking information, consult the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority website, including their 3-week look-ahead schedule.

For a history of the project to date, search on “Northpark” in the upper right corner of ReduceFlooding.com. Since 2018, I have posted more than 200 stories about this project.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 1/14/2026

3060 Days since Hurricane Harvey

Northpark Update: Drainage on Both Sides of UPRR Tracks Finally Connected

12/6/25 – Northpark Drive expansion contractors started boring underneath Union-Pacific Railroad Tracks on 5/17/25. Yesterday, they finally connected the drainage networks on both sides – an early Christmas present for the project team. It also represents a major project milestone in the quest to build an all-weather evacuation route for Kingwood.

Pictures of Final East/West Connections under Tracks

This morning, Project Manager, Ralph De Leon sent me pictures taken earlier on Thursday.

Culvert sections creeping toward junction box (right). A concrete/sand mixture surrounds the sections to lock them in place.
Northpark
Wider shot shows culvert’s entry point into junction box.
Workers place plywood across the entry, then…
…pour more concrete to seal it off.
Contractors finally removed the retaining walls that kept workers safe in the pits.

How Bore Pits Looked Today

By the time I got there today with my drone, contractors had completely filled one bore pit and mostly filled the second!

Pit between tracks and Loop 494 filled!

According to De Leon, even though contractors have completed the east/west drainage, they must still connect the junction boxes to 8′ x 8′ culverts that branch north on both sides of the tracks.

One branch will collect stormwater from Loop 494 shown above.

Pit east of tracks was mostly filled in today. But note excavator digging an additional trench north (right) of pit.

The second will convey part of the stormwater that goes under the tracks to the north behind Extra Space Storage, Public Storage and Dunkin’ Donuts. See above. That water will use a ditch that connects with Bens Branch and the Kingwood Diversion Ditch near the Fireworks Stand.

Trench (r) will connect the junction box to culverts already buried behind storage businesses.

The rest of the stormwater from the junction box will use culverts already buried down the middle of Northpark. Contractors have already made and buried that connection, according to De Leon.

Up Next Elsewhere on Northpark

According to the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority website, after tying into the drainage ditch that goes behind the storage businesses, the large storm sewer crew will move across the tracks and tie in the Loop 494 drainage to the western junction box.

They will then begin working on the east side of the tracks from the Anderson Rd to Northpark Christian Church where the paving has been poured setting the curb inlet tops and extensions.

Another crew will also work east of the tracks from Northpark Christian Church to Advanced Auto, setting the curb inlet tops and extensions.

On Monday December 15th,  they will move to the corner of LP 494 and Northpark in front of the Dry Cleaners to set the sanitary sewer manhole cone and top.

The dirt crew will begin backfilling and grading behind the curbs on both east- and westbound Northpark east of the railroad tracks.

The concrete paving crews will pour from Anderson Rd. towards the Dairy Queen driveway. They will then move to westbound Northpark and pave from Sun Auto to Quick Quack/Sherwin Williams.

The driveway crew will continue working on the remaining 4 driveways on westbound Northpark near Northpark Christian Church. They will then return to working on the sidewalk from Northpark Christian Church to the east end of the project at Advanced Auto.

For More Information and a Timetable

See the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority Website and their three-week lookahead schedule.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 12/6/2025

3021 Days Since Hurricane Harvey

Northpark Planners Seek to Relieve US59 Feeder Congestion

11/28/25 – Turning from the northbound US59 feeder these days onto eastbound Northpark Drive can test one’s patience. Last Wednesday – near midday – traffic was backed up for four blocks. And it took several cycles of a very long traffic light to make the turn. See below.

Looking S at traffic backed up on US59 northbound feeder at mid-day on Wednesday, 11/26/25

Note how the two turn lanes on the feeder are temporarily blocked off.

Fortunately, the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority/TIRZ 10 is actively working on solutions to the problem.

Why Northbound Turn Lanes are Closed

The two northbound turn lanes are blocked off because of the current shortage of inbound merging lanes on Northpark. Four lanes of traffic (two turning and two coming from under the freeway) must squeeze into two lanes. And those two lanes swerve within feet of the intersection. See below.

Looking W at US59 from over Northpark. Note step-shaped piece of old pavement near intersection.

Reportedly, the new paving stopped short of the freeway at this location to avoid a closure of the road for inbound traffic.

But at some point that odd “step-shaped” area of old concrete and blacktop will have to be replaced with new concrete. And at this point, project manager Ralph De Leon thinks that should happen sooner rather than later. So he’s looking at alternatives.

“This odd area of original concrete immediately east of the intersection of the I-69 and Northpark is the issue,” said De Leon. “It needs to be torn out and replaced with new concrete. And due to its difficult location, the contractor has held off. They will probably need to close that area beginning on a Friday night, reopening on a Sunday. It will take three days.”

Engineers Studying Fix

De Leon added, “The engineers are evaluating shifting the inbound traffic northward to the current outbound lanes while the activity is taking place.  Thus, instead of four westbound lanes, they will go down to two lanes both directions, but only for the weekend. And after that, we are good for the remainder of the project,” he added. 

The engineers and contractor are also looking at creating “merge lanes” further to the east. They would be located roughly in the vicinity of What-a-Burger. Moving the merge area eastward, away from the intersection may improve safety. 

De Leon says the engineers are now working on a Traffic Control Plan. However, before they can implement it, the contractors we will need to fabricate traffic signs that guide traffic to the merging lanes.

Regardless of which option the engineers recommend, that odd shaped piece of old pavement will need to shut down from a Friday night to a Sunday afternoon to replace the old concrete with new panels.  The wider shot below shows where turning traffic could merge.

Looking W from farther back shows where traffic turning off US59 could merge with other inbound traffic.

Reconstruction of a major thoroughfare is never easy. However, when this is complete, it will provide major improvements to both mobility and safety.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 11/28/25

3013 Days since Hurricane Harvey

Northpark Contractors Begin Mobilizing for Bridge Construction

11/17/25 – Contractors for the Northpark Drive expansion project have officially begun mobilizing to build the bridge that will go over the UnionPacific Railroad (UPRR) Tracks and Loop 494. This morning, I received notice that a piece of equipment called a “Kelly Bar” arrived at the job site. It will be used to drill 100-foot deep piers for the bridge.

ChatGPT says, “A telescopic Kelly bar is made of nested, hollow, steel tubes of successively smaller diameter which slide within one another, allowing the overall length to extend or retract depending on drilling depth.”

Think of an extension pole that can reach the extreme depths needed to support a bridge that will carry heavy loads.

Kelly bar being hoisted off transport truck will be used for hydro-excavation.

At the monthly meeting of the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority/TIRZ 10 on 11/13/2025, Project Manager Ralph De Leon described next steps on the project.

Bridge Construction Will Likely Start on West Side of Loop 494

Contractors will likely start building the bridge on the west side of Loop 494 and work their way east. That’s because UPRR needs to move an electrical line that powers their railroad traffic signals. The line will move to a new pole just north (left) of the junction box shown below. The old pole is in the way of new surface turn lanes that will carry westbound traffic.

Before traffic can be rerouted to new surface lanes that will be built on the left, electricity for the RR signals must move from the old vine-covered pole to another one out of frame on the left.

Note how traffic swerves right in the photo above. Until that pole moves, traffic must use the old surface lanes, which are in the bridge’s path.

Said De Leon, “So, we cannot build our feeder roads. The goal was to put everybody on the outside lanes to create an opening in the middle for the bridge.”

So, instead of building the bridge starting east of the tracks, contractors will likely start on the west where barriers to rerouting traffic do not currently exist.

Looking west from Loop 494. Note how new eastbound pavement on left is mostly complete.

Eastbound Surface Lanes Close to Concrete Pours

De Leon said contractors could finish the eastbound lanes between Loop 494 and US59 as early as Friday, 11/22/25. That would let contractors tear out the old eastbound lanes and create room to start building the bridge in the middle – independent of what UPRR does with the electricity for its crossing signals.

East of Loop 494, those eastbound surface lanes on the south side of Northpark are also nearing completion. Subsurface prep appears to be complete or nearly so.

Looking east toward Russell Palmer from in front of Dunkin’. Note the asphalt in the new lanes on the right.

Concrete comes next. “Once they finish that section, you’ll be able to drive on the new lanes on the south side all the way down past Russell Palmer. So, we’re close to getting everybody out of the middle on the eastbound lanes,” said De Leon. In other news…

Drainage Junction Boxes by UPRR Tracks Half Done

One of the two giant junction boxes by the UPRR tracks is now virtually complete. The boxes are the last link that will carry drainage from west of 494 to the Kingwood Diversion Ditch.

Junction box cast in place west of UPRR tracks. The huge opening on the front will connect to a culvert coming under Loop 494. The back of the box (top of frame) is already connected to twin 5′ culverts under the tracks.

Once work on this junction box is complete, contractors can finish Loop 494 paving according to De Leon. “So, then 494 will have a broader cross-section. That’ll be great,” he said. Note how the junction box currently constricts 494 traffic in the photo below.

Looking S along Loop 494 where Northpark crosses L to R.

Meanwhile, work is just beginning on the box east of Loop 494 where boring started.

Junction box east of tracks. Note twin culverts, concrete floor, and contractors erecting rebar for side walls.

Focus on Driveway Construction

De Leon also discussed the status of business driveways that branch off Northpark. “If you’re going westbound from that new Chevron station near the Diversion Ditch, all those driveways are still blocked out. They have to finish those driveways. And that will keep them busy for a couple of months.” There are a lot of businesses! See the barriers below.

Looking W from Russell Palmer Drive at driveway construction.

For More Information

See the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority/TIRZ 10 website for Project 1013.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 11/17/25

3002 Days since Hurricane Harvey

Major Northpark Milestone: Bore Under Tracks Completed

10/18/2025 – Yesterday, on 10/17/2025, the Northpark Expansion project reached a major milestone. Some might say the project cleared a major hurdle, except the hurdle is about 15 feet below the UnionPacific Railroad tracks.

Whatever you call it, the completion of the second bore under the railroad tracks caused jubilation among board members of the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority/TIRZ 10. Utility conflicts and buried debris delayed completion of the bores and forced construction crews to tackle other parts of the project out of sequence.

A collective sigh of relief could be heard … even through emails.

The twin bores will convey stormwater under the railroad tracks from the west side of Loop 494 to the east side, and from there to the Kingwood Diversion Ditch.

Path of drainage from entry ponds. Additional drainage from the businesses along Northpark will go through culverts under the street where the center ditch used to be.

The boring operation began in May 2025 after years of negotiation with the railroad. Crews had completed the first bore with little trouble, but then ran into a buried, out-of-place water line with the second bore that set them back months.

Next Major Steps

Crews must still place culverts under Northpark itself west of Loop 494 to get stormwater from the south side to the north side. Not necessarily in this order, they must also:

  • Complete new surface lanes on the south side of inbound Northpark
  • Finish driveways on the north side of outbound Northpark
  • Build junction boxes in the two bore pits
  • Work with UnionPacific as it rewires its signals for the new railroad crossing configuration
  • Clear “Ditch One” behind the businesses on the north side of Northpark
  • Pave the surface lanes that will go on either side of the bridge
  • Begin work on the foundation for the bridge and its abutments
  • Install permanent traffic lights at I-69
  • Finish paving Loop 494.

Photos Taken on 10/16-17/25

The photos below show progress made this week.

The yellow truck and crane in the center are demobilizing boring equipment.

This ten second video shows the augur breaking through into the receiving pit.

Video provided by Northpark project manager Ralph De Leon

Here’s how the two pits looked today.

(Looking E.) Crews have removed all equipment from the bore pit on the east side of the tracks.
In the receiving pit west of the tracks, you can now clearly see twin 5′ bores...all the way through.
When I visited the site, the bore contractors were already demobilizing their equipment.
After crews build junction boxes in the pits and connect the drainage under Loop 494, paving crews will be able to complete this last segment and eliminate backups like you see above (upper right).

Elsewhere along Northpark

Friday afternoon, crews were busy working from one end of the project to the other.

Looking W toward I-69 at top of frame. Inbound lanes on the left still need to be paved. The bridge will begin in the foreground where the outbound lanes bow to the right.
From opposite direction, looking E, outbound surface lanes will connect across the two bore pits to the lane already paved in front of the Shell Station (lower left).
That will straighten out a major kink in the traffic.
Closer to I-69, private contractors hired by the Exxon jobber, Honey Farms, are reworking the stations apron to make room for drainage, sidewalk, street and lighting improvements.

For More Information

Visit the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority website to see a discussion of the next steps and a 3-week lookahead schedule.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 10/18/25

2972 Days since Hurricane Harvey

Major Northpark Traffic Change Coming Next Week

7/31/2025 – According to the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority website, contractors will soon move all eastbound traffic on Northpark Drive between Italiano’s and GS Tire & Auto to newly constructed lanes on the south side of the thoroughfare. This will eliminate two major swerves within 3,000 feet and straighten out inbound traffic east of Loop 494.

The Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority website indicates the change will happen on the night of 8/5/2025. However, I have been unable to confirm that.

Photos of Lane-Change Areas Taken Today

All photos below were taken today starting from the east and moving west.

Looking West from G&S. Inbound traffic will move to the south (left).

The shift to the south will go past Russell Palmer … all the way to Italiano’s.

Looking west from Russell Palmer (lower left). From this point, traffic in BOTH directions will shift south and demo of old outbound lanes will begin.
Still looking west. This detour will also straighten out. Italiano’s is out of frame in upper left. Through this stretch, traffic in both directions will shift left (south)

After contractors open up the new eastbound lanes, they will shift westbound traffic to the south from NextCare Urgent Care to Russel Palmer. They will then begin demolition of the old westbound lanes between those two points.

Use extra caution as people get used to the changes and as traffic increases with people returning from vacation.

Bore Under Railroad Tracks Still Stalled

For several weeks now, boring for the twin 60″ pipes underneath the UnionPacific Railroad Tracks has been stalled due to the discovery of utility conflicts. The Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority website simply says, “All work on UPRR ROW has been halted due to further unknown conditions found in the field on 7/25/2025.”

The originating pit for the bores east of the UnionPacific tracks.
A few feet west of the tracks, the bores have not yet reached the receiving pit.

The project planners intended to convey excess stormwater west of the tracks under them to the Kingwood Diversion Ditch and Bens Branch. But contractors must resolve the utility conflicts (shown above) and place junction boxes for the drainage in both pits before they can connect the drainage on each side of the tracks.

So close and yet so far. Only a few feet separate the two pits. But the utility conflicts are holding up a major part of the job.

Loop 494 Progress

Meanwhile contractors have made good progress on Loop 494 both north and south of Northpark.

Looking S across Northpark at new northbound lanes (left) one of which is mostly finished..

Looking north from the other side of Northpark…

Contractors have begun placing rebar to expand the roadbed.

After crews finish paving the northbound lanes of Loop 494, they will begin the eastbound lanes of Northpark west of Loop 494.

Between 59 and Loop 494

Between Loop 494 and 59, contractors are currently placing junction boxes for drainage underneath where the inbound surface lanes will go. Today, you could see them placing one of the boxes in front of Whataburger.

Drainage junction box in front of Whataburger on right.

According to the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority, “They will then move into the center median of Northpark west of LP 494, to begin work on the storm laterals and structures, which include the detention-pond equalizer pipe.” See below.

Recently demolished center section of Northpark will be focus of next phase of drainage work.

To see progress since the last update, compare photos in this post from 7/21/2025.

In Other Northpark News

Crews have started preparing the base for what will become new inbound surface lanes just east of the UP Railroad Tracks.

Looking E across from Public Storage and Dunkin’ Donuts

It’s not easy to see how the pieces of this jigsaw puzzle come together when you’re driving. Keep your eyes on the road and check back here periodically for progress reports.

Yesterday, as I came in on Northpark from 59, it took almost a half hour to get the one block from 59 to Loop 494. Because of the construction near Whataburger, inbound traffic was down to one lane for a short while. But it was back open this morning.

Such closures can be hard to predict and frustrating. To the degree you can, I would try to avoid Northpark during construction hours. But also be sensitive to the hardships placed on local merchants. Go out of your way to patronize them when you can.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 7/31/2025

2893 Days since Hurricane Harvey

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.

Looking E from in front of Exxon Station near US59. Note traffic swerving to left of the area where heavy equipment is perforating the old westbound lanes in preparation for their removal.

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

Perforation of old concrete in preparation for removal.

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.

Looking East from over US59.

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.

Looking E toward Quick Quack from the Dunkin’ parking lot.
Looking W from Dunkin’ driveway toward Public Storage.
Wider shot looking W shows location of rebar in upper center (to left of traffic). New Enclave Subdivision within Kings Mill on right.

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.

Northpark Enclave construction plan detail
Detail from Enclave construction plans obtained via FOIA request from Montgomery County Engineer’s Office. Highlight added.

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.

Storm sewer pipe from Kings Mill now reaches the Enclave 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.

Looking west at start of twin 5-foot pipes that will carry stormwater under tracks. “Receiving pit” on far side of tracks.

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.

Note one pipe under ladder and another cutting diagonally across receiving pit. LHRA notes indicate one is an abandoned water line.

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

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.

Northpark Contractors Start Boring Under Railroad Tracks

5/17/25 – Contractors have finally started boring under UnionPacific Railroad (UPRR) tracks to connect Northpark drainage east and west of Loop 494. That crucial connection is a key to beginning many other parts of the Northpark expansion project.

Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority first contacted UPRR about running Northpark drainage under their tracks ten years ago. And for those keeping track, it was eight years ago that the two parties signed their first contract.

Fifth Contract is the Charm

If you’re wondering why it’s taken so long, the two parties are now working on their fifth contract. But all that is in the past. So are the special UPRR training sessions that contractors and LHRA staff had to attend. So is the years-long wait for UPRR to weld single 200-foot-long sections of track into place across the ten lanes of Northpark.

All energies are positive now and the project is moving forward.

Looking W along Northpark across Loop 494 toward US59. Location of starting point for bore circled. This and all pictures below taken on Friday, May 16, 2025.

One Pole Blocking Bore Must Move

Note, however, a CenterPoint pole is still in the way. See below.

Energized electric lines must be moved to adjacent pole on right.

CenterPoint needs to transfer the energized lines from the existing wood poles on each side of Northpark to the newly installed and adjacent fiberglass poles. Those are designed to route the electricity underground at that location – out of the way of the bridge. Once electricity is rerouted, the old pole blocking progress can be removed.

Yesterday, I received word from City Councilman Fred Flickinger’s District E office that CenterPoint and UPRR are close to signing a contract that will let CenterPoint enter UPRR’s right of way to move the pole. Good news!

A steel frame and steel plates locked together by those giant timbers in the foreground will protect the operation.

Steel, Not Concrete Pipe Needed

After completing the bore pit, contractors will run six-foot steel pipes under the tracks. The tolerance is exceedingly tight. The tracks cannot move more than one-quarter inch despite the weight and vibration of mile-long trains carrying heavy loads. Hence the steel.

Pipes that will eventually bore under tracks are being stockpiled for now on S side of Northpark.

Bore Pit Built Like Underground Fortress

From the ground, construction of the bore pit looked like this.

Steel I-beams and steel frame form perimeter of pit.
Then giant steel plates were slotted between the I-beams.
Looking E from over Loop 494. Steel pipe will connect to a giant junction box in the dirt area (bottom center).

Junction Boxes Will Tie Drainage Together

When this operation is complete, we will have two junction boxes on either side of the tracks.

Some time ago, a third junction box was placed underground near the Shell station on the opposite side of Loop 494. Before contractors paved the new southbound lanes on Loop 494, they already connected giant 8’x8′ reinforced concrete pipe under the paving. So now, all they have to do is connect that to the center junction box west of the tracks (foreground above).

Contingent Operations

Many subsequent operations rely on the successful completion of the bore under the tracks. They include:

  • Completing detention ponds at US59.
  • Routing drainage to Ditch One behind the businesses north of Northpark.
  • Paving northbound lanes on Loop 494.
  • Paving westbound lanes on Northpark from Russell-Palmer Road to the railroad.
  • Building the bridge over the railroad tracks and Loop 494.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 5/17/25

2818 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.

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 Church at 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.

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

Northpark Crews Begin Pouring Concrete Monday, Road Narrowed

Northpark Drive construction crews have finished placing rebar in a 1000 foot long stretch on both sides of the entrance to Kings Mill. They will begin pouring concrete there on Monday, 9/16/24 at 3 AM. Concrete trucks will enter and leave the construction zone approximately every six minutes.

Because workers will spread the concrete next to the inbound lanes, traffic will be reduced to one lane until approximately 1 PM. However, both inbound lanes should open for the evening rush hour.

Rebar and forms ready for pour at 3AM Monday. Traffic on right will narrow to one lane to protect workers spreading the concrete.
Looking west from Kings Mill Entrance at rebar ready for concrete.

At this time, the construction team has scheduled additional concrete pours for 9/20, 9/27, and 10/1; times and dates subject to change.

Project managers evaluated all-night and all-weekend scenarios for pouring the concrete, but encountered legal restrictions having to do with worker safety and/or cost.

Back-and-Forth Paving Plan

The general plan is for crews to pour one side of one stretch of the road while prepping the other. After they finish the new middle lanes, the old outer lanes will be demolished one side at a time. They will reroute traffic to the middle lanes will reconstructing the old lanes.

At this point, neither inbound nor outbound traffic will be shut down completely, though it will narrow to one lane on the side where concrete is being poured.

Looking east at entire stretch of rebar on right. The next pour will be on other side of road.

More Visible Progress

Ralph De Leon, the project manager, emphasized that most of the wrinkles that the project experienced in the last year have been ironed out at this point. However, one small snag remains re: a switch of fire hydrants and buildings with commercial sprinkler systems on the north side of Northpark.

Several companies and a church are migrating to the City of Houston water system, and it’s apparently taking longer than expected for the City’s billing and meter installation department to catch up with the new infrastructure installation. Worst case: some businesses may get free water for a month or so.

De Leon asked for patience. “People don’t see all the work that’s going on underground, but that’s the real heavy part of the lift,” he said. “People will begin to see a lot more progress on Monday. The above-ground ‘flat work’ that everyone sees goes much faster.”

Major Steps After This

The area between the Diversion Ditch and Russell Palmer Road will be paved as part of Phase II, which includes everything up to and a little bit past Woodland Hills Drive.

Paving crews will next complete the new lanes between Russell Palmer and 494.

Looking NE across 494 and Northpark (right). First junction box has just been buried in lower left. Drainage team must next bore under 494 and railroad tracks.

Next, paving crews will turn their attention to 494.

Loop 494 will get the same alternate side of the road treatment in sections until finished.

Finally, crews will begin work west to US59.

NW corner of Northpark and Loop 494, looking west toward 59

The entry ponds will likely be among the last things completed.

In my last post, I alluded to a total shutdown of Northpark while UnionPacific installed new beds and track across the road. Originally scheduled for sometime in October or November, that will now happen in January or February.

It’s too early to tell when bridge construction over 494 will commence.

For More Information

For schematic diagrams of the paving plan, click here.

As paving moves east to west, crossovers will need to close temporarily. To see the schedule, click here.

For a three-week look-ahead schedule, visit the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority website.

Also, see these posts on ReduceFlooding for a history of the project:

Posted by Bob Rehak on 9/13/24

2572 Days since Hurricane Harvey