W129-00-00 Channel Enclosure Project

The W129-00-00 Channel Enclosure Project is a capital project of the Harris County Flood Control District. Its purpose is to enclose a poorly-functioning drainage ditch in the Galleria area using dual reinforced concrete boxes (RCBs). This phase of the project spans from San Felipe Street to Richmond Avenue on the drainage ditch, which runs adjacent to the Union Pacific Railroad tracks just inside West Loop 610 South. The drainage ditch drains into Buffalo Bayou and is formally identified by the Flood Control District as W129-00-00. (See map.)

The project includes the demolition and replacement of 50-year-old bridges that cross the drainage ditch at Westheimer Road and at San Felipe Street. Changes in the construction schedule have delayed the expected bridge closures from previously published dates. As of March 2012, the work at Westheimer is expected to begin in fall 2012 and the work at San Felipe is expected to begin in spring 2013. Please note that all closures are subject to change.

The bridge reconstruction projects will require all lanes on the San Felipe bridge to be closed for up to two weeks, and traffic flow on the Westheimer bridge to be limited to one lane in each direction for up to a month. The bridges will not be replaced at the same time or during the holiday season. The City of Houston is contributing funds to the bridge projects. The Harris County Flood Control District will place signs identifying detour routes that will aid in the flow of traffic during the bridge projects. The Flood Control District will publicize lane closures and will provide an advisory to area residents and other interested parties closer to the time of bridge construction.

Construction on the drainage ditch itself began in August 2011. The Flood Control District is enclosing the drainage ditch in dual 12-foot by 10-foot reinforced concrete boxes.

The Harris County Flood Control District is committed to communicating information about the project to affected individuals and organizations so that citizens can make informed decisions to minimize inconvenience during construction. In anticipation of the bridge closures, Flood Control District officials are meeting with local homeowners and civic associations, churches, schools, businesses, and transportation and emergency services providers to provide information about traffic detour plans and to answer questions. The Flood Control District also will distribute traffic detour information to the media (Internet, print, radio and television) on an on-going basis.

For the opportunity to sign up to receive regular e-mail updates, please click on the “Subscribe to receive W129-00-00 Channel Enclosure Project updates” link in the right column at the top of this page. To ask a question, to comment on the project or to request a presentation for your organization, please call the Harris County Flood Control District’s Project and Study Information Line, which is monitored daily, at 713-684-4040.

The Harris County Flood Control District recognized the need for repairs to W129-00-00 and launched a three-phase reconstruction project in 2004. The first phase of the project spanned from Buffalo Bayou and San Felipe Street. It cost $9.4 million and was completed in 2006.

The second and current phase began in August 2011 and focuses on the section of the drainage ditch from San Felipe to Richmond Avenue.

The third phase, which has not yet been designed and which has not yet been funded for construction, will span from Richmond to Westpark Drive. When all three phases are complete, the structural integrity of the drainage infrastructure will be greatly improved, reducing the risk of flooding to surrounding neighborhoods and commercial areas.

In 2010, the Harris County Flood Control District completed a maintenance project that removed debris and litter from W129-00-00 between Westheimer Road and Westpark Drive. The project also included selective clearing within the easement to help prevent debris from falling into the ditch. The goal was to improve the drainage infrastructure and to allow the ditch to function effectively.

The W129-00-00 drainage ditch flows northward from Westpark Drive inside of West Loop 610 South and runs parallel to the Union Pacific Railroad tracks. It drains into Buffalo Bayou on the southern edge of the City of Houston’s Memorial Park. Along its approximately 2-mile route, W129-00-00 crosses under U.S. 59, Richmond Avenue, Westheimer Road and San Felipe Street, all of which carry heavy loads of traffic between the Galleria area and downtown Houston. The drainage ditch is bordered by concentrated areas of residential and commercial development.

The Harris County Flood Control District has been maintaining the drainage ditch since the mid-1950s. The drainage ditch has exceeded its design life, and over time the slopes of W129-00-00 have experienced concrete failures and erosion. The right of way for the drainage ditch is restricted to a narrow 35-foot area, and that property is owned by Union Pacific Railroad and CenterPoint Energy.

The Harris County Flood Control District provides projects that reduce flooding risks and damages from bayous and creeks, 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.