Members of League City City Council heard details on several potential alignment options for the extension of Hobbs Road to FM 517 during a work session Dec. 13.
The area in question is about a 1,900-foot section of land between where Hobbs Road ends and FM 517—which runs perpendicular to Hobbs—begins. In February, council authorized civil engineering company Cobb, Fendley & Associates to prepare preliminary reports with alignment alternatives.
The company conducted drainage, detention and environment studies, as well as traffic analysis and a topographic and boundaries survey. Reports were completed and delivered to the city in September. The Dec. 13 session gave council members a chance to provide input on whether the eastern, western or central alignment was most preferable.
“Our goal is to get some direction tonight on an alignment,” City Manager John Baumgartner said Dec. 13.
City staff will now approach Galveston County about the realignment of Cemetery Road, which runs parallel to the existing Hobbs Road. Cobb Fendley officials said the project as a whole involves coordination with the city of Dickinson, Galveston County and the Texas Department of Transportation.
Council expressed a preference for the central alignment option, which would shift the the intersection of FM 517 and Cemetery Road slightly so it meets the proposed Hobbs Road extension. The goal is ultimately to tie Cemetery and Hobbs together, Baumgartner said.
A detention pond will be necessary for stormwater mitigation, with the most feasible location being to the northwest of the realigned roads. Cobb Fendley officials said the pond will be large enough to accommodate any future development nearby. Three detention plans were proposed, with the recommended plan estimated to cost around $2.8 million.
The recommended detention plan requires a pump station to send water to Borden’s Gully; the plan would allow for the proposed pond to drain into the gully within 24 hours, Cobb Fendley officials said. The central roadway alignment is anticipated to cost about $3.1 million, putting the estimated project cost around $5.9 million in total.
The central alignment does not involve crossing pipelines. It allows for the design speed of 45 mph to be maintained and requires the least land acquisition, Cobb Fendley officials said Dec. 13.
TxDOT determined the central alignment is feasible, Cobb Fendley Project Manager Kerry Lackey said, based on both the current roadway and the state’s future plans with widening FM 517. Those widening plans are not yet under contract and are still in the design phase, according to Cobb Fendley Principal Engineer Brad Matlock.
Council Member Hank Dugie expressed support for the central alignment and indicated he believes this project should be a high priority.
“This thoroughfare is going to be one of the major west side thoroughfares for the history of League City, so we need to make sure we do it right, now,” he said.
Other business: regular meeting
After the work session, council conducted its final regular meeting of 2021. The next meeting is scheduled for Jan. 11.
During the regular meeting, council authorized the city to execute eminent domain proceedings with Clear Creek ISD, West League City Crossing, CC Magnolia Creek, and the Magnolia Creek and Brittany Lakes homeowners associations. The city is acquiring the land for construction and improvements associated with the League City Parkway corridor signals project.
Less than 0.1 acres is being acquired from any entity, per meeting documents; a total 0.2664 acres is needed. Council Member Justin Hicks and Mayor Pro Tem Nick Long voted against the measure with no discussion.
