The latest
Members of Houston City Council approved a $1.3 million contract for design and construction phase services at a Nov. 8 meeting. The contract is with the Houston-based civil engineering company Idcus Inc.
The funding will come from the city's Dedicated Drainage and Street Renewal Capital Fund.
The big picture
Houston officials announced in September the city will receive $14.1 million in federal funding to support the project, which will cost an estimated $15.1 million overall. The plan is intended to reduce home and street flooding by diverting water from Turkey Gully to White Oak Bayou.
The project involves reconstructing roadways as well as making improvements to drainage, waterline and sanitary sewer infrastructure in the target area—bound by West 28th Street to the north, White Oak Bayou to the south, Turkey Gully to the east and Ella Boulevard to the west.
What they're saying
When federal funding was announced in September, District C council member Abbie Kamin said the project will remove an estimated 240 properties from the 10-year flood plain. At the Nov. 8 meeting, Kamin reiterated the project's importance in an area where even 2-year storms can cause flooding.
"It is going to take a few years, but we’re getting the money in now with hopes of [having] shovels in the ground next year some time," Kamin said at the Nov. 8 meeting. "This is really important for an area that hasn’t always had the attention it needs when it comes to flood protection."
What's next
Design work is expected to take place in 2024 with construction following in 2025.
