Westheimer Reconstruction: Kirby to Shepherd

Over the past several months work on the drainage, pavement and streetscape improvements project on Westheimer between Kirby and Shepherd has focused on the installation of a large four-by-six-foot storm sewer box on Dickey Place between Westheimer and Reba. As the final piece of work on Dickey between Westheimer and San Saba begins preparations for pavement placement, crews are now eying the primary storm sewer installation on the north side of Westheimer between Kirby and Shepherd.

The original plan was to take possession of the intersection of Shepherd and Westheimer on January 5th and begin work from Shepherd west to Persa, however, the City of Houston project on Shepherd between Westheimer and Buffalo Bayou is still working in the intersection and east of the intersection, preventing Upper Kirby work from beginning as planned.  

In an effort to not halt work altogether, Upper Kirby and Reytec are planning to begin installing storm sewer moving west from the outfall point at Dickey as early as Monday. This will allow the City contractor time to complete his work at Shepherd while still making meaningful progress toward the completion of Westheimer.  

In order to regain time lost due to this re-sequencing, Upper Kirby is pursuing approval to bring in additional crews to work concurrently moving east from Dickey toward Persa. If approved, this extended work zone could shave significant time off of the potential impacts of the City work being in the Shepherd/Westheimer intersection much longer than anticipated. Once the City contractor has vacated the intersection, Reytec has committed the resources necessary to move into the intersection quickly to complete final reconstruction.

During this first phase of work on Westheimer, motorists should expect to be transitioned down to one lane in either direction on the south side of the street. Once work on the northernmost lanes is complete, traffic will flip for work to begin on the south side of Westheimer. Expect this situation between Kirby and Dickey next week, however, if approved, this configuration could extend from Kirby roughly to Persa. Look for further updates as plans are finalized.