Construction work on bridges at South Rice Avenue and Chimney Rock Road, meanwhile, has an estimated start in winter 2020-early 2021.
The projects are three of 13 remaining bridges that need renovation or outright replacement as part of the $480 million Project Brays, one of the most significant flood damage reduction initiatives managed by HCFCD. The new bridges will allow a greater volume of water to properly drain during heavy rain events.
Work at Hillcroft would involve raising the bridge by 15 inches, according to HCFCD, at a cost of $3.3 million, with city of Houston contributions aiding sidewalk enhancements.
Construction will last at least three months with an expected completion date at the end of summer 2020.
The bridge will be closed to both pedestrian and vehicular traffic, flood control district officials said, while the two intersections bracketing the bridge will also be partially closed.
During the construction period, traffic to the south of Brays Bayou will be rerouted east and west to Chimney Rock Road and North Braeswood Boulevard, respectively, while traffic to the north of the bayou will be directed east on North Braeswood to Chimney Rock Road, according to HCFCD.
Bridge reconstruction projects at Chimney Rock Road and South Rice Avenue, meanwhile, will consist of a complete demolition and bridge replacement with higher, longer, wider bridges, according to an email from the flood control district.
Though construction on the two bridges is slated to begin at the same time, the current plan is to reconstruct each bridge one span at a time, allowing some commuter and pedestrian traffic.
Negotiations with the city of Houston on the two bridges are ongoing and will likely not be finalized and sent to Houston City Council for approval until after the project redesign is completed later in fall 2020, according to the flood control district.
