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Surls on Kirby:
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Upper Kirby Update 

January 24, 2013  

Upper Kirby Construction
Westheimer Utility Work Approaches Final Week    

 

Westheimer  

Paving, Drainage and  Streetscape Improvements Project: 

 

Workers continued to work this week on the final run of underground duct banks between Argonne and Kirby. Both the Center Point and the telecommunications ducts have been installed and crews intend to asphalt the pavement here next week.

 

 

Work was also done on the remaining north/south crossings extending across the south side of Westheimer. At Greenbriar the telecommunications duct is complete and it is expected that the Center Point duct will be completed next week. Wakeforest is in a similar phase and is also expected to take place next week. While this crossing is taking place, access onto Wakeforest will be one-way at times. Motorists coming out of the neighborhoods onto Westheimer are asked to exit on Newman when work is underway on Wakeforest.

Center Point contractors are currently setting the remaining terminal poles where future underground utilities will return overhead. Upper Kirby contractors will be stubbing up to those poles next week as well.

Westheimer West of Kirby

The effort to continue moving west with utility infrastructure will begin next month. The project was bid on January 16th and the low bidder was Texas Sterling Construction, the same contractor currently working between Kirby and Shepherd.

Once crews have been confirmed and material delivery dates solidified, a detailed schedule for construction will be available. At this point, expect to begin seeing construction activity between Kirby and Buffalo Speedway early in February.

 

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.   

Surls on Kirby 
Tree and Three Flowers Coming in 2014
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.

 

 

For more information on this installation, contact 713.524.8000 or travis@upperkirby.org.   
If you have a new business, development or community event that you would like included in the monthly Upper Kirby news, please contact us at 713.524.8000 or submit to streettalk@upperkirby.org
 
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Upper Kirby is a constantly evolving urban area marked by an outstanding location, great shopping, unique residential neighborhoods, smart development and a small town feel. It is an area of successful businesses, involved communities and a synergy between the public and private sectors. It is the heartbeat of Houston and everywhere you want to be.