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District Construction
Upper Kirby Streetscape Initiatives

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May 6, 2016
Levy Park Renovation
Performance Pavilion Begins to Take Shape

Work at Levy Park continued this week with pathway construction and somedrainage and sprinkler pipe installation, particularly around the new children's area. The most visible work this week, however, was the erection of the steel frame for the future performance pavilion. This structure will accommodate performances for audiences from several dozen to several thousand people. The seamless nature of this structure to adjoining plaza space will allow this to be used for more casual programming and as a great shade structure when formal performances are not underway. 

Walls will begin going up in the next week that will frame in the west side of the pavilion where restrooms will be located. Two large live oaks have been prohibiting progression of vertical work on the pavilion and framing of the concrete roof. These were successfully moved last week allowing for those efforts to move forward without obstruction. 
Next week crews will continue laying concrete and brick pathways, will continue welding and framing activities on the performance pavilion and will begin drilling foundation shafts for the proposed overlook structure in the children's area. This platform based structure will allow children to meander through the canopies of the large oak trees and experience the park from a different perspective. 

For more information on the park visit www.levyparkhouston.org or call 713.524.8000.


Upper Kirby Construction
Westheimer Construction - Tying up Loose Ends
Westheimer Reconstruction: Kirby to Shepherd


Crews continued this week with the installation of pedestrian amenities along Westheimer between Kirby and Shepherd. 

Brick work along the south side of the road is nearly complete. Final paver installation along the recessed tree grates will continue this week. Landscaping and restoration efforts will also continue over the coming week. 

Final private utility connections are also being undertaken over the next few weeks that will allow the overhead poles to be removed. Once removed, the contractor will replace the asphalt block-outs with new concrete and brick work. This process is currently in permitting at the City. 

Crews are also preparing to begin surface improvements on Persa and Peckham street as well due to severe pot hole damage adjacent to the Westheimer project site. This is a partnership between the City of Houston and the Upper Kirby Redevelopment Authority to address a serious surface issues that have been exacerbated by public and private area construction over the last few years. Work here should begin in May.

Bissonnet Reconstruction: Kirby to Buffalo Speedway 
Current Pedestrian Amenities on Bissonnet

The Bissonnet roadway reconstruction and streetscape installation project was awarded to ISI Contracting this week and is scheduled to begin mid-May. 

Underground utility ducts were installed on Bissonnet in 2014-2015 allowing for the overhead utilities to be relocated underground. CenterPoint Energy and AT&T still have wires on the overhead poles, but
Pedestrian access to transit on Bissonnet
anticipate having them relocated in May. Once the private utility company work is completed, the overhead poles will be removed. 

Roadway reconstruction will begin mid May whether or not the utility companies have completed their work. 

The project will include a complete concrete road reconstruction with improvements to water, sanitary and storm facilities as well as the Upper Kirby Management District's installation of a sorely needed pedestrian-oriented streetscape. As you can see in the photos above, Bissonnet has no pedestrians because pedestrian facilities are either inadequate or absent all together. It is anticipated that the project will take approximately one year to complete. 

Look for further updates as this schedule is finalized.


Westheimer Reconstruction: Kirby to Buffalo Speedway

Roadway reconstruction, storm drainage improvements and pedestrian amenities will continue west of Kirby later this year. The project has not yet been bid for construction as Upper Kirby is waiting on AT&T to complete design of their underground facilities so that the overhead utility poles can be removed. It is estimated that their work could be complete by late spring allowing construction to begin on the roadway early summer.

Look for further updates as this schedule is finalized.


Shepherd Reconstruction: Westheimer to US 59

The Upper Kirby District is preparing to begin design on the drainage and pavement improvements project on Shepherd between Westheimer and US 59 over the next several months. This construction will provide storm drainage improvement, new pavement, utility relocation and complete streetscape and pedestrian improvements. 

Construction will likely follow Westheimer work in the 2017/2018 time frame. 

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.  
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.