Correction: The maintenance work underway along Poor Farm Ditch is not related to the more complex $32.5 million flood-control project that will be carried out at a future date. The article has been updated to reflect the two separate projects.

Workers with the Harris County Flood Control District will resume maintenance work on the northern segment of Poor Farm Ditch North Oct. 9 between University Boulevard and Bissonnet Street in the city of West University Place.

What's happening

Work crews will spend the next several weeks replacing concrete panels and patching areas of the slope-paved ditch, according to an Oct. 7 announcement from the city of West University Place. Work will begin at the intersection of Plumb and Edloe streets before progressing north to Sunset Boulevard.

The context


The first maintenance effort related to the Poor Farm Ditch project began in August at the University Boulevard intersection before crews worked north to Plumb Street.

Poor Farm Ditch serves as the stormwater conveyance system for 1,300 acres in total and carries water from drainage systems in West U south to Brays Bayou. A separate $32.5 million project along Poor Farm Ditch south of University Boulevard received funding from a number of sources, including $16.9 million from the state and another $9.9. million from the federal government. Work on that project, also being led by the HCFCD, has not started.

What readers should know

A rolling work zone will be in place along Edloe while work is ongoing, but will only be in effect during work hours. Traffic is expected to be reduced to one lane along small portions of Edloe to allow room for construction vehicles and equipment, but Edloe will be fully open after workers finish each day, West U officials said.


The recently finished Edloe Pathway—which runs from Georgetown Street to Albans Road—will remain open and safe to use during construction.

During construction, crews will place steel plates on the parts of the Edloe Pathway walking track where equipment will be driven to protect the path. Any vegetation along the pathway impacted by the work will be replaced by the HCFCD.