The Harris County Flood Control District (District) has begun construction and has closed the Ardmore Street Bridge at Brays Bayou today to replace the existing four-lane bridge with a new higher, longer and wider bridge that will increase the conveyance of stormwater along the bayou in south central Harris County.
The Ardmore Bridge will be closed for construction of the new bridge for approximately one year. Prior to closing the bridge, the District, TxDOT, and City of Houston hosted a series of public and stakeholder engagement meetings to discuss access routes, traffic signaling & monitoring, and other safety concerns from the community. To address the concerns shared by the community, the District conducted multiple traffic studies and implemented several of the requested accomodations provided during the public and stakeholder meetings.
The District also coordinated with first responders, emergency management officials, Houston Independent School District, METRO, and area residents and businesses on detour routes during the closure (see detour exhibit below or visit ProjectBrays.org/Ardmore for more details on the traffic studies, meeting summary, and FAQs).
This will be the 19th bridge modification constructed by the Flood Control District as part of $480 million Project Brays, a cooperative effort between the Flood Control District and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Project Brays 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.
When Project Brays is complete, it is expected to provide a 1 percent (100-year) level of flood protection upstream (west) of the Sam Houston Tollway. In areas downstream (east) of the tollway, Project Brays will reduce the number structures at risk from a 1 percent (100-year) flood from 16,800 to 1,800.
ABOUT THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT
The Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) 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.