Harris County Commissioners Court authorized the award of more than $36 million in construction contracts for the next phases of the Hunting Bayou and White Oak Bayou federal flood damage reduction projects last Tuesday. Both projects are part of a partnership effort between the Harris County Flood Control District and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Commissioners Court awarded $16,338,008 to SpawGlass Civil Construction, Inc. for a 2.5-mile segment of channel modifications for the Hunting Bayou Federal Flood Risk Management Project, also called Project Hunting, from US-59 to the Homestead Stormwater Detention Basin.
The project along Hunting Bayou will widen and deepen the channel, add new stormwater outfalls, and adjust utilities to accommodate the new channel design. The existing pedestrian bridge at N. George Street will also be removed as part of this project. Harris County Precinct 1 is funding the trails that are being built as part of the project. Please note that during construction, trails may be closed for safety concerns.
“I’m excited that this project is one part of the extensive work currently underway to minimize flooding in Hunting Bayou watershed, which historically has been one of our most flood-vulnerable watersheds in Harris County,” Precinct One Commissioner Rodney Ellis said. “Flood resiliency and equitable flood mitigation for all Harris County communities have been and continue to be high on our priority list. In addition, Precinct One is committed to expanding the trails along Hunting and other bayous to give all Houstonians access to healthy recreation and active transportation opportunities.”
Commissioners Court also awarded $20,574,645 to Burnside Services, Inc. for an 8-mile segment of channel modifications for the White Oak Bayou Federal Flood Damage Reduction project from Hollister Road to FM-1960.
The project along White Oak Bayou will widen the channel and extend the hike & bike trail from Hollister to the Ranchstone Stormwater Detention Basin. Please note that during construction, trails in this area will be closed for safety concerns.
Both projects are scheduled to begin construction in Fall 2020 and are expected to be complete by the end of 2021. Once the entire Project Hunting effort is completed, the 1 percent (100-year) floodplain will be removed from more than 4,000 structures near the bayou. Once the White Oak Bayou federal project is completed, the 1 percent (100-year) floodplain will be removed from more than 1,500 structures near the bayou.
“When complete, the 100-year floodplain will be removed from more than 5,000 homes in these project areas,” said Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo. “More and more communities are seeing the real-world benefits from the investment Harris County voters made in our long-neglected drainage system. As a result, our entire community is better positioned to weather future storms.”
For more information on these projects, visit HCFCD.org/C-18 and HCFCD.org/C-14.