Upper Kirby Update 

January 10, 2013  

Westheimer  

Paving, Drainage and  Streetscape Improvements Project: 

Upon completion of the utility duct bank construction along both sections of Westheimer,  the roadway will be temporarily paved and striped allowing full vehicular access while CenterPoint and the telecommunications companies reconnect services underground. The duration of this reconnection work will be up to the utility providers though 45 to 90 days is typical.

While the various utility companies work to reconnect the eastern half of Westheimer, the Upper Kirby Redevelopment Authority (UKRA) will begin duct bank construction between Kirby and Buffalo Speedway.   

Once the utilities have been removed and the lines brought underground east of Kirby, Upper Kirby will move forward with drainage and underground infrastructure improvements followed by complete repaving of the roadway. The project will also entail the installation of a pedestrian-oriented streetscape similar to the treatment provided on the recent Kirby Drive and Buffalo Speedway projects. Roadway reconstruction is anticipated to begin around the spring 2014 east of Shepherd and last approximately 10 months. Drainage improvement and roadway reconstruction between Kirby and Buffalo will immediately follow and will have a similar approximate duration. 

For more information on Upper Kirby construction and related activities or for construction related issues or concerns, please contact Travis Younkin at 713.524.8000 or travis@upperkirby.org.   

Upper Kirby marathon supporters, runners' family and friends and spectators should see the participants begin to hit Kirby Drive at San Felipe between 7:30 AM and 8:40 AM. "Hoopla stations" will be set up where spectators can gather at several areas around the intersections at Westheimer, Kipling, West Alabama and Richmond to cheer as the runners pass.   

Early risers should be aware of the following lane closures staring at 5:00 a.m.All lanes will be closed unless otherwise noted below. 

Marathon Course Closures

·         Congress from Crawford to Smith

·         Smith from Congress to Franklin

·         Franklin from Smith to Washington (all lanes except one westbound curb lane)

·         Washington from Congress to Waugh (all lanes except one westbound curb lane from Franklin to Houston, and one eastbound curb lane from Studemont to Sawyer)

·         Heights/Waugh (southbound) from Washington to West Gray

·         West Gray from Waugh to Shepherd

·         Shepherd from West Gray to San Felipe

·         San Felipe from Shepherd to Kirby

·         Kirby (southbound) from San Felipe to Bissonnet

·         Bissonnet from Kirby to Montrose

·         Mandell (southbound) from Bissonnet to Sunset

·         Sunset from Mandell to Rice Blvd.

·         Rice Blvd from Sunset to Greenbriar

·         Greenbriar from Rice Blvd. to University Blvd.

·         University Blvd. from Greenbriar to Weslayan

·         Weslayan (northbound) from University to Westpark

·         Westpark from Weslayan to S. Rice Blvd. (all lanes closed except one westbound lane from Newcastle to 610/59 northbound feeder road, and one eastbound lane from Westpark exit ramp to 610 southbound feeder road)

·         Loop 610 feeder (southbound) from Richmond to Westpark

·         Post Oak Blvd. (northbound) from Richmond to San Felipe

·         San Felipe (westbound) from Post Oak Blvd. to Tanglewood Rd.

·         Tanglewood Rd. (northbound) from San Felipe to Chimney Rock Rd.

·         Chimney Rock Rd. (southbound) from Tanglewood Rd. to Memorial Dr.

·         Memorial Dr. (westbound) from Chimney Rock Rd. to Loop 610

·         Memorial Dr. (eastbound) from Loop 610 to Shepherd

·         Shepherd (all lanes under overpass) from Memorial Dr. to Allen Parkway

·         Allen Parkway from Shepherd to Bagby

·         Dallas from Allen Parkway to Bagby

·         Bagby from Dallas to Lamar

·         Lamar from Bagby to Avenida de las Americas

·         Avenida de las Americas from Dallas to Rusk

Additional Half Marathon Course Closures

·         Montrose (southbound) from Bissonnet to Dallas

·         Montrose (northbound) from Dallas to Allen Parkway

 Freeway Exit Ramp Closures

·         610 West Loop, southbound, exiting to Hidalgo/Richmond

For a map detailing lane closure times by mile marker, click here.

James Surls' Tree & Three Flowers

Surls on Kirby  

The Upper Kirby District Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, is coordinating a monumental public art installation that will place an original James Surls sculpture entitled, Tree & Three Flowers in the Kirby Drive median just south of Westheimer Road. 

Seen by over 50,000 cars per day, this sculpture will immediately become one of Houston's most visible and iconic art installations ever.

Tree &Three Flowers is a 30-foot tall steel and bronze sculpture that is intended to signify growth and potential, to act as a magnet for tourism and commercial patronage, to inspire citizen's creativity and to add dramatically to the community's sense of place. It is intended to be a collaboration of the community taking ownership in its cultural and civic identity and relaying that identity on a local, national and international level to the residents, business owners, patrons and visitors that pass by every day.

Just minutes from Houston's museum district and just blocks from Gallery Row on Colquitt, the Tree & Three Flowers sculpture echoes loudly the love of art and culture that has long been part of the Houston landscape.

The Surls on Kirby is a 50/50 public private partnership leveraging TIRZ and Management District participation as well as private donations to make this project a reality.

Become a part of the strong cultural tradition in Houston and help us relay that message to the rest of the world.

Donate Now.