Planning for future flood relief in West University Place took another step forward on Sept. 9, with City Council members approving phase one of a design contract which involves installing a new stormwater pipeline on the city's west side.

The cost

The $3.6 million design contract was awarded to HDR Engineering, Inc. to work on the city's West Side Paving & Drainage Improvement project, which required a $5.12 million budget amendment from the east side drainage project, in order to keep the full cost of each project separate and identifiable, according to agenda documents.

The big picture

The project will be an approximate eight-year, multi-phase undertaking with an estimated cost of $203-$258 million, according to a news release. A project timeline from the city's engineer at IDS Engineering Group estimated how the west side drainage project could see completion in the third quarter of 2030.

With the project currently situated in the design phase as of September, the preliminary and final design phases are both expected to last more than 12 months each, as it involves coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, both the cities of Houston and Bellaire, Harris County Flood Control District and various other permitting authorities, according to city officials.

The timeline

The West Side Paving & Drainage Improvement project originally dates back to a 2019-21 drainage study where engineers conducted a high-level analysis of the city's existing drainage conditions.

• Improvements on the city's east and west side were recommended, including utilizing Kilmarnock Ditch on the city's west side.

From 2021-23, after detailed surveys and modeling, preliminary engineering reports discovered Kilmarnock Ditch did not have sufficient capacity for necessary drainage improvements.

• Instead, a new trunkline that would extend from Bissonnet Street to Brays Bayou was identified.

In the last two years, more west side drainage modeling took place, and by late August, city officials announced the purchase of $4.5 million in property that would support the city's future storm drainage improvements.

• The property runs through West U from Bissonnet Street to Bellaire Boulevard and south to Brays Bayou, according to a news release, which will allow for a new stormwater trunk line, named the ELPH Pipeline, to move water directly from the city to Brays Bayou.

Going forward

Residents and community members will have future engagement opportunities to discuss the project through public town hall meetings and workshops, according to agenda documents.