Upper Kirby Update
February 8, 2013
|
Richmond Drainage Improvements: Main Lane Asphalt Complete
|
Richmond
Construction
The northern half of Richmond is now complete with asphalt and open to full access. Over the next week, crews will work to restore impacted sections on the south side of the street as well as some left-turn bays. Final striping also remains to be completed.
Audley work is now complete. The eastern half of the intersection was poured mid-week and should be opened back to full access later today.
Cleanup and minor restoration work will be ongoing as we wrap up activity on Richmond over the next few weeks.
Westheimer Drainage Improvements and Streetscape Installation Design is now nearly complete on the Westheimer Paving, Drainage and Streetscape Improvements Project between Shepherd and Buffalo Speedway. This is the final piece of storm drainage work needed to complete the Kirby system.
Work on Westheimer will follow the scope of the Kirby Drive reconstruction project fairly closely. It will entail the burial of all overhead utility lines; new storm drainage, water and sanitary facilities; complete roadway repaving and the installation of a full pedestrian-oriented streetscape that will include pedestrian lighting and furniture, street tree installation and irrigation, brick paved crosswalks, widened sidewalks and upgraded traffic signal and streetlight standards.
The project will be implemented in two sections, the eastern phase will extend from Shepherd to Kirby Drive and the western phase will continue from Kirby to Buffalo Speedway. Each of these phases will be split into a utility relocation phase followed by a roadway, infrastructure and streetscape phase.
The project will likely begin at Shepherd where the contractor will be responsible for constructing the underground duct-banks that will house the existing overhead wires in the future. The contractor will then asphalt over the work area, re-stripe the roadway and remove all traffic control and equipment.
We will close out the contract at this point to avoid disruption to the traveling public and to the local businesses and property owners while we wait for Center Point and all telecommunication companies to transfer services to the new underground facilities and remove the wooden utility poles. Because the length of this process is uncertain, we have planned the project to pause and restore the roadway completely while the utility companies are completing their work. Once the terminal poles have been removed by Center Point, we will bid the roadway phase of the project and begin the reconstruction.
The first utility phase, originally planned to bid in December will wait to bid likely until late March. The design has met with some delay in the city review and comment phase but should be signed and ready to advertise by the end of the month. Please look for further detail on the timing and implementation of this project as plans are finalized. For more information on Upper Kirby construction projects and for issues and concerns as construction progresses, contact Travis Younkin at 713.524.8000 or email [email protected] .
|