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.  

The final piece was poured late this week between San Saba and Dickey in its entirety and should be drivable early next week. With this final lateral piece complete, focus has shifted to Westheimer despite several obstacles that have prevented the contractor from beginning per the original schedule.  

 

The original plan was to take possession of the intersection of Shepherd and Westheimer on January 5th and begin work on Westheimer 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 has set up traffic control to allow for the installation of storm sewer moving west from the outfall point at Dickey to Kirby. 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 still 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. While the hope was for this to begin this week, concurrently with the work between Dickey and Kirby, the City contractor has experienced additional delays at the Shepherd intersection and it does not appear that Westheimer work will be able to progress that far east at this time. Once the City contractor has vacated the intersection, Reytec has committed the resources necessary to move into the intersection quickly to complete final reconstruction. The original schedule for completion was June of this year, these delays will impact that date though it is uncertain at this point what the extent of that impact will be.   

 

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.  

Bissonnet Utility Relocation

Bissonnet Utility Relocation from Kirby to Buffalo Speedway is now complete along the main lanes. Over the next several weeks, crews will work to restore back-of-curb areas and will begin some final, short duct runs along private property. Lane impacts over this time will be minimal and intermittent. No significant impacts to traffic or driveways is expected during this time.

Once all ducts have been completed, Upper Kirby will turn over the new facilities to 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.

Look for further updates as the schedule progresses.