Tree Lane Bridge repairs Archives

Tree Lane Bridge Repairs Nearing Completion

10/12/24 – According to the minutes of latest Houston Public Works progress meeting Tree Lane Bridge repairs over Bens Branch were 57% complete as of 10/1/24 with 80% of the budget consumed. However, the contractor has completed a significant amount of additional work since then.

The million dollar project began in February. At the time, Public works predicted it would be complete by summer 2024. Unfortunately, that didn’t quite work out.

Status of Tree Lane Bridge Repairs

Completed as of mid-October:

Work under half of the bridge
Three of the four wing walls on either side of the Bens Branch, upstream and downstream of the bridge
Placement of rip rap next to the two eastern wing walls
Additional pilings/supports under both east and west sides of the bridge
A new storm-drain outfall on the southeast side

Not yet started:

Upstream work on the northwest wing wall
Soil grading (change order still pending)
Clean up
Reseeding

Still not moved:

Several pipes and cables

It’s unclear at this time whether the utilities are holding up any additional work, or whether they even have plans to move their property.

Downcutting of the stream bed through erosion exposed the pipe and cable, which used to be buried.

Pictures taken 10/12/24

In the progress meeting, the contractor estimated completion of Tree Lane Bridge repairs during the first week in November. The pictures below show the status of the work as of 10/12/24.

*A new, concrete bed has been poured to reduce the rate of downcutting by the stream and protect the piers. Note, however, that it only extends halfway under the bridge so far.*

*SE wing wall, new storm drain outfall and rip rap.*

*The four round pilings are new and will provide additional support for the bridge.* *Similar supports have been placed on the opposite side.* *Look closely in picture above.*

*Water pipe and cable still have not been moved.*

*Note new rip rap to the right of the outfall. Rip-rap (the concrete chunks) reduces the velocity of concentrated, flowing water and therefore erosion.*

*NW wing wall is complete, but new concrete bed under north side of bridge has not yet been started.*

*Neither has the* *NW wing wall been started.*

Pictures Taken Earlier

Chris Bloch, a Bear Branch Trail Association board member and local flood fighter, took the three Tree Lane Bridge repair pictures below.

Work in progress on new pilings on 10/3/24. Original bottom of stream bed was approximately three feet higher than current level, as you can see from the concrete still clinging to one of the old pilings.

Luckily, we have been having ideal construction weather since Beryl in early July. The mild drought has kept flow in the channel low, allowing work under the bridge to proceed safely.

Will These Repairs Hold?

Additional upstream development has increased the flow in Bens Branch in recent years. The bridge stood for more than 40 years without problems. However, this is the third set of repairs since 2020.

The current repairs appear more substantial than previous ones. But if the amount of water coming downstream continues to increase, even these repairs won’t last long. Water routinely comes up to the bridge deck.

*Photo by Chris Bloch of Tree Lane Bridge during TS Imelda.*

One cannot overstate the potential danger. Bear Branch Elementary is next to the bridge. More than 600 students attend the school and dozens of school buses routinely cross over the bridge every school day.

Power of Moving Water

For a history of the project and to see what damage to the bridge looked like before repairs started, see these previous posts:

8/11/24 Tree Lane Bridge Repairs Finally Starting Again, Hopefully for Last Time

6/28/24 Tree Lane Project Supposed to be Done Today, But Hasn’t Started

4/9/24 City Begins Tree Lane Bridge Repairs

2/21/24 CoH Public Works Kicks Off Tree Lane Bridge Rehab Project

11/28/23 Tree Lane Bridge over Bens Branch Still Standing

6/12/23 Flood Damage To Tree Lane Bridge Over Ben’s Branch Accelerates

1/29/23 Tree Lane Bridge over Ben’s Branch Damaged…Again

3/21/22 How Insufficiently Mitigated Upstream Development Imposes Taxation without Representation on Downstream Residents

3/31/20 City Completes Repairs on Tree Lane Bridge, But Concerns Remain

2/29/20 Tree Lane Bridge over Ben’s Branch: Before and After Repairs

12/2/19 Tree Lane Bridge vs. Power of Moving Water

Posted by Bob Rehak on 10/12/2024

2601 Days since Hurricane Harvey

Tree Lane Bridge Repairs Finally Starting Again…Hopefully For Last Time

8/11/24 – Tree Lane Bridge repairs are finally starting…again. By my count, this will make the fifth time if you include the 2020 and 2022 repairs that each failed within months, and two aborted starts earlier this year. Hopefully, Houston Public Works will complete the repairs this time and they will stick.

Third Round of Repairs in Five Years

The current rehab project is the third in five years. That speaks to the quality of engineering, contracting and supervision in Houston Public Works. See the list of my articles about Tree Lane Bridge problems below. I’ve listed them in reverse chronological order.

6/28/24 Tree Lane Project Supposed to be Done Today, But Hasn’t Started

4/9/24 City Begins Tree Lane Bridge Repairs

2/21/24 CoH Public Works Kicks Off Tree Lane Bridge Rehab Project

11/28/23 Tree Lane Bridge over Bens Branch Still Standing

6/12/23 Flood Damage To Tree Lane Bridge Over Ben’s Branch Accelerates

1/29/23 Tree Lane Bridge over Ben’s Branch Damaged…Again

3/21/22 How Insufficiently Mitigated Upstream Development Imposes Taxation without Representation on Downstream Residents

3/31/20 City Completes Repairs on Tree Lane Bridge, But Concerns Remain

2/29/20 Tree Lane Bridge over Ben’s Branch: Before and After Repairs

12/2/19 Tree Lane Bridge vs. Power of Moving Water

Unexplained Delays, Changes

Construction of the most recent repair project was to have started in February this year. But contractors finally showed up 1.5 months later in early April. They did some tree trimming, parked their equipment and disappeared.

The project was to have been completed by 6/28 this year. But on 6/28, the job site was vacant, except for the equipment which had been parked months earlier. The biggest visible change: additional erosion, most likely due to the May flood, threatened a giant excavator that had been parked close to Bens Branch.

*Erosion creeped toward parked excavator. Photo taken 6/17/24.*

In June, I asked about delays and was informed by the project manager that they were waiting on unspecified utilities to move newly discovered utility lines.

In fairness, on 6/17/24, I did observe a utility crew burying cable in the vicinity. Public Works said on 7/2/24 that “all utility relocates have been completed.” However, as of 8/11, a water line and a cable are still clearly visible at the bottom of the creek and in the way of the project. See below.

*Photo taken 8/11/24, six months after project start. Those exposed lines show up in photos taken in 2019.*

The announcement of the most recent delay was even more vague. It announced “changes” due to “unforeseen circumstances” as the cause. I emailed and went online to find specifics. But not a clue!

Was it weather? Management? Engineering? Priorities? More utility conflicts? War in Ukraine? The school lunch menu?

Are the contractors even working off the right plans? The plans currently posted on Engage Houston have three different dates on them: 2018, 2022 and 2023. But I see nothing dated 2024. What delayed the project six months?

Contractors Return Just in Time for Back-to-School Traffic

After equipment sat idle virtually all summer, contractors returned to the job site just in time for the start of school. The bridge sits next to Bear Branch Elementary, which more than 600 students attend.

Last week, I made the mistake of trying to cross the bridge at 8AM. After project managers promised that construction activity would NOT interfere with school traffic, there the contractors were…with traffic at a standstill and backed up five blocks.

Later that afternoon, I received an email from the project manager. This email announced that the project would finish in “Fall 2024.” I would remind you that technically Fall lasts through December 21. That’s more than 4 months away. And more than 4 years after the 2020 repairs. But who ‘s counting?

Photos as of 8/11/2024

I took the photos below this afternoon so you can see how much progress has been made since February.

*Looking N from S side of bridge at work on E wall.*

Note all the construction debris piled in the middle of the creek, waiting for more heavy rain.

*Looking S from N side of bridge at W side work.*

Vegas is taking odds on whether Public Works will be able to live within its $909,000 estimate for this job.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/11/24

2539 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.

City Begins Tree Lane Bridge Repairs

This morning, City of Houston contractors began clearing access points for the Tree Lane Bridge repairs in Kingwood next to Bear Branch Elementary where more than 600 students attend classes.

The City announced the kickoff of the project on February 21, 2024, but work actually started today.

*Photo on 4/9/2024. Step one: lumberjacks clearing access for Tree Lane bridge repair work.*

Extent of Damage

This is actually the second round of repairs. The City made some rudimentary efforts in 2020 that ultimately proved ineffective. Four years later, erosion under the bridge is more extensive now than then.

I took all the pictures below on 4/7/24.

*Tree Lane Bridge before start of Round 2 repairs. Collapse of East retaining wall.*

The forensic report blames the damage on “failure of riprap.” Riprap is boulders placed in the stream designed to reduce erosion by slowing the flow of water, breaking it up, and providing a protective barrier.

However, the forensic analysis indicates that water flow in Bens Branch undermined the rip rap.

Soil beneath riprap can be eroded if the rock was just placed on top without any buffer between the layers such as a geotextile fabric or smaller riprap (crushed stone).

In this case, erosion removed more than a foot of soil behind the concrete walls, under the base, and under the existing riprap.

Tree Lane Bridge Before Start of Round 2 Repairs — *Tree Lane Bridge before start of Round 2 repairs. Downcutting under bridge.*

You can see from the exposed utilities that the creek has downcut. This downcutting extends several hundred feet upstream of the bridge. And that’s part of the problem. It allowed water to get behind and under the existing channel linings.

*Headward erosion downstream on west side and exposed utilities.*

Construction plans call for:

Removing all the existing material under the bridge and on the sides of the banks
Installing a new concrete channel (bottom and sides) that will maintain the flow line of the stream.
Repairing outfalls.

The engineer’s report claims the proposed U-shaped channel will hold the current side slopes of the bridge and allow for the drop in the flow line.

For More Information

See the Report of Findings, construction plans, and the City’s official Engage Houston web page.

For pictures of how the bridge looked after the last round of repairs, see this post from 3/31/2020.

For pictures of a flood responsible for much of the damage, see this post from 1/29/23.

A Silver Lining

The damage to the Tree Lane bridge has been so rapid, that it occurred twice within the time many Bear Branch students attended the adjacent elementary school. Perhaps it will inspire curiosity about flooding among some of these students, spur them to pursue engineering careers, and perhaps prevent such dangers in the future.

Safety Precaution

The City hopes to complete the Tree Lane bridge project sometime this summer, weather permitting. Please observe traffic warning signs, cones and flags for the duration. And keep curious children away from heavy equipment which will be maneuvering in tight spaces with limited visibility.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 4/9/2024 with help from Chris Bloch of the Bear Branch Trail Association

2415 Days since Hurricane Harvey

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