In one of the largest construction contracts ever awarded on behalf of the Harris County Flood Control District, Harris County Commissions Court authorized $49,009,142 for the replacement of bridges and channel modifications along Brays Bayou to James Construction Group, LLC on Tuesday.
The eight project areas in the construction award include Hillcroft, Buffalo Speedway, Almeda, Calhoun, Telephone, Lawndale, South 75th, and the Galveston Sub UPRR (Union Pacific Railroad) bridges. Except for Calhoun, Galveston Sub, and Hillcroft the Flood Control District will demolish the current bridges and replace them with higher, longer, and wider bridges to help improve the flow of stormwater along Brays Bayou.
Texas Department of Transportation will complete the Calhoun Road bridge replacement and Union Pacific Railroad will complete the Galveston Sub bridge replacement, after which the Flood Control District will complete the channel improvements under the bridges. The Flood Control District will not replace the current Hillcroft bridge with a new bridge, but instead will raise and lengthen the current bridge. Construction is anticipated to start on Lawndale, Telephone and Hillcroft bridges this Spring with the remaining bridges to be scheduled in a sequence to minimize traffic impacts. The Flood Control District will host a public meeting to discuss the Lawndale Street bridge and Telephone Road bridge construction, detour routes, and other information with area residents on Tuesday, March 3 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Forest Park Lawndale Funeral Home - 6900 Lawndale Street, Houston, TX 77023.
With the majority of the channel modifications completed, there are 13 bridge replacements or modifications that remain along the bayou to reach the full benefits of Project Brays. The Flood Control District has completed 21 miles of channel improvements, built 4 stormwater detention basins covering 900 acres, and replaced or modified 19 bridges (of the 32 total bridges needing to be replaced) to bring Project Brays to more than 80 percent completion to date. When complete, Project Brays is expected to reduce flooding risks for over 10,000 structures in the watershed. For more information, visit www.projectbrays.org.
ABOUT THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT
The Harris County Flood Control District provides flood damage reduction projects that work, with appropriate regard for community and natural values. With more than 1,500 bayous and creeks totaling approximately 2,500 miles in length, the Flood Control District accomplishes its mission by devising flood damage reduction plans, implementing the plans and maintaining the infrastructure. For more information about the Flood Control District, visit www.hcfcd.org or follow us on Twitter @HCFCD for all the latest #HCFCDnews.