Upper Kirby Streetscape Initiatives

Before

  December 12, 2014  

Bissonnet Utility Relocation

Existing Pedestrian Realm on Bissonnet

Bissonnet Utility Relocation from Kirby to Buffalo continued this week  with the first stages of work between Wakeforest and Buffalo Speedway. Kirby was successfully restored over the weekend and traffic control shifted west Monday on schedule.

Crews began removing concrete between Wakeforest and Buffalo this week and should finish up that process over the weekend allowing them to begin installation of the telecommunications and electric duct banks that will eventually house the overhead utilities.

Work will also continue next week through the Wakeforest intersection. It is expected that efforts here will be finished prior to Christmas and the street reopened to access onto and off of Bissonnet from the south.

While work has shifted to the western half of the project area,  final telecommunications work east of Kirby in the center of the roadway still remains. Remaining work east of Kirby will allow traffic to flow on either side of the construction zone. This work will likely begin in the next two to three weeks. Look for further updates as this work is finalized.

It is expected that all remaining work will be complete around mid January baring any unforeseen obstacles.

At that time, Upper Kirby will turn over the underground duct banks to the Center Point and the telecommunications providers on the street for final relocation and pole removal. Once Center Point Energy and the telecommunications providers have switched service from overhead to underground and removed the wires and wooden poles, Upper Kirby will begin water, sanitary and storm improvements and roadway reconstruction.

Like Kirby, Buffalo Speedway and Westheimer, this project will include a complete pedestrian-oriented streetscape and landscaping plan implemented and maintained in perpetuity by the Upper Kirby Management District. The roadway is not being widened and the existing esplanade is being maintained.

Like was the case on Westheimer, once underground facilities are in place they will be turned over to the utility companies to transfer overhead service to underground. The roadway reconstruction can begin once the utility companies have completed their work (typically around three months from completion of the duct installation). Once roadway work has begun, it will take 10 to 12 months to complete the project.

Look for further updates as the schedule progresses.

Storm Sewer Installation on Dickey Place+

Drainage work on Dickey Place just north of Westheimer is continuing to progress south this month and has moved to the block face between San Saba and Westheimer.

Initial work here will focus on the east side of the roadway and traffic will be maintained on the west side using flagmen when necessary. Once drainage infrastructure has been installed and the eastern half of the roadway poured, traffic will switch to the new pavement and the west side can be demolished and poured.

Crews intend to pour sidewalk and curb along Dickey later today and will continue with storm and sanitary sewer improvements between Westheimer and San Saba next week. There will be no access through the San Saba intersection while this work is being completed, however, restaurant access on Dickey will be maintained throughout construction.

Work on Westheimer is expected to begin in January either at Dickey Place working toward Kirby or at Shepherd working toward Dickey Place. While the preference is to expedite work at Shepherd, work here will be contingent on the City of Houston project on Shepherd from Westheimer north to Buffalo Bayou being far enough north that Upper Kirby's contractor can move in. Look for updates as this plan is finalized.
 

TxDOT work on the US 59 frontage road between Shepherd and 610 is now substantially complete. The project will shut down until January 3rd, at which point, there will be single lane closures at various locations to finish small, unresolved items. Permanent striping activity and restoration will be going on as well after January 3.

Look for weekly updates as this project progresses.