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In This Issue:
Upper Kirby Honors Johnny Carrabba
Westheimer Construction
US 59 Feeder Construction
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Upper Kirby Update 

May 1, 2014   

Upper Kirby Honors Johnny Carrabba
Our 2014 Game Changer Award Recipient

     

 

Over 120 Guests joined the Upper Kirby Management District and the Upper Kirby District Foundation in honoring iconic restauranteur, Johnny Carrabba for his 30-year commitment to the area. 
Council Member Ellen Cohen Presents Mayoral Proclamation to Johnny Carrabba

A founding board member of the Upper Kirby District Association, Johnny has been personally invested in the community since 1986 when he opened Carrabba's original where an adult newsstand previously stood.

(L to R) UK Management District Chair, Rob Axelson; Prior Director, Lonnie Schiller; Prior Director Bob Ittner; UK Foundation Chair, Buddy Bailey
Today he continues to invest in the area, transforming his property for the second time with the rebuilding of Carrabba's and the introduction of two new restaurants, Grace's and Mia's along with free structured parking for patrons.

The Upper Kirby District is proud to honor Johnny Carrabba as our 2014 Game Changer and looks forward to another 30-years of great food and fond memories.

    

Upper Kirby Construction
Telecom Duct Installation Underway        

 

Westheimer  

Paving, Drainage and  Streetscape Improvements Project: 

 

Overhead utility relocation continues just east of the Buffalo Speedway/Westheimer
intersection this week. Two parallel duct banks are being installed, one to house Center Point Energy lines and one to house telecommunications providers. The Center Point duct is now complete and the telecommunications duct work has begun.

Crews will be working to open cut and install the remainder of the telecommunications duct along the 1000-foot construction zone east of Buffalo Speedway over the next few weeks before shifting work east. The next construction zone will impact the south side of the street approximately between River Oaks Blvd. and Eastside Street. Look for a definite start date for the traffic control switch next week. 

 

As was the case east of Shepherd, construction will be undertaken in 1000-foot segments. Work on this stretch will impact the two eastbound lanes on the south side of Westheimer. Traffic will be shifted to one lane in either direction through the construction zone. Each 1000-foot segment is expected to take four to five weeks to complete. Once a given segment is completed, it will be restored with asphalt and opened prior to the next segment beginning.

The contract duration on this project is 120 days putting completion somewhere around June/July 2014. Weather permitting, roadway construction between Kirby and Shepherd should be able to begin immediately following utility completion west of Kirby.

 

CenterPoint and the telecommunications companies will follow behind duct bank construction reconnecting services underground. The duration of this reconnection work will be up to the utility providers though 45 to 90 days is typical. Traffic impact during this work is negligible.  

 

Once the utilities have been removed and the lines brought underground west 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. This work will first be completed between Shepherd and Kirby followed by an identical scope of work between Kirby and Buffalo Speedway.  

 

Roadway reconstruction is anticipated to 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.   

TxDOT Construction
Some Frontage Lanes to Reopen this Weekend - Inbound Buffalo and Outbound Weslayan Exits to Remain Closed           

   

US 59 Frontage Road Reconstruction

TxDOT crews continued work this week on the reconstruction of the frontage roads on US 59 between 610 and Shepherd. Construction through the Upper Kirby area began last year with curbside lane reconstruction and has again ramped up between Shepherd and Weslayan with inside lane and u-turn reconstruction.

   

Crews are currently finishing up framing and paving activities inbound between Buffalo Seedway and Kirby, outbound in front of the Girl Scouts of America building and outbound between Kirby and Edloe. Motorists should expect to be narrowed down to one lane along the curbside to negotiate around construction areas. These sections are expected to reopen this weekend.

   

On April 21, crews closed the inbound Buffalo Speedway exit and the outbound Weslayan exit to complete work in those areas. Inbound motorists should expect to exit Kirby and u-turn to reach Buffalo Speedway destinations and outbound motorists should expect to exit Newcastle and u-turn at the railroad crossing for Weslayan destinations. These closures are expected to last approximately until May 19th.

Following the reopening of the aforementioned exits, TxDOT intends to close the outbound entrance at Edloe/Buffalo Speedway and the inbound entrance at Weslayan. Weather permitting, this work should begin the week of May 26th and last several weeks.

 

Some middle and inside lane work remains throughout the project area and intersection work also has yet to be completed. Intersection work will be restricted to nights and weekends, but will, at times, impact all US 59 intersections between 610 and Shepherd.  

 

Look for weekly updates as this project progresses.     
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.