The Harris County Flood Control District has begun construction on the next phase of channel modifications as part of the Brays Bayou federal flood damage reduction project – Project Brays. During this construction phase, Brays Bayou will be widened between Buffalo Speedway and South Rice Avenue in the Meyerland area.
The Harris County Flood Control District has begun construction on the next phase of channel modifications as part of the Brays Bayou federal flood damage reduction project – Project Brays. During this construction phase, Brays Bayou will be widened between Buffalo Speedway and South Rice Avenue in the Meyerland area. Project Brays is a $480 million cooperative effort between the Flood Control District and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. It includes the widening of 21 miles of Brays Bayou in 13 separate channel modification project segments, the modification of 32 bridges, and the construction of four stormwater detention basins with a combined capacity of 3.5 billion gallons.
On July 11, 2017, Harris County Commissioners Court awarded the approximately $11.31 million construction contract to lowest qualified bidder Quest Civil Constructors Inc. Work on the project began in July and is expected to be complete in late summer 2018. During this construction phase, Brays Bayou will be widened along a section from 2,200 feet upstream of Buffalo Speedway to downstream of South Rice Avenue in the Meyerland area.
As part of the project, the Flood Control District will excavate approximately 280,000 cubic yards of soil, and will construct retaining walls under the Interstate Highway 610/South Post Oak Road and Braeswood Boulevard bridges. The project also will install new outfalls and headwalls, and rebuild existing trails along the bayou in the project area.
To make way for the channel modification project, the Flood Control District will clear some trees and vegetation. When construction is complete, the Flood Control District is committed to replanting trees and shrubs along the bayou during the next planting season. To date, the Flood Control District has planted more than 46,000 trees along completed sections of Brays Bayou, and at four regional stormwater detention basins.
Construction operations require the use of large trucks to carry the excavated soil from the construction site for off-site disposal, and to pour the concrete for the retaining walls. All motorists and pedestrians are encouraged to be alert to large truck traffic when passing near the construction access points.
To ask a question or comment on the project, please call Harris County Flood Control District's Project and Study Information Line at 713-684-4040 or the Project Brays Information Hotline at 713-316-4820.
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.