Two-minute impact
Harris County officials gathered May 9 to celebrate the completion of the $6.3 million Westfield Pines and Westfield Village drainage improvement project.
According to a May 8 event invite from Precinct 4, construction began in May 2023 and was completed in March with improvements including:
- Upsizing the storm sewer system
- Reconstructing driveways and street sections
- Adjusting water lines and sanitary sewer lines
- Constructing a new detention pond off Kieth Harrow Boulevard
Why it matters
During Hurricane Harvey in August 2017, 33 homes flooded in the Westfield area, which are now out of the 100-year floodplain, Harris County Engineer Milton Rahman said.
This project is a part of the larger Harris County Resiliency and Recovery Division effort, which was created in 2018 to oversee engineering projects dedicated to the reduction of flood risk after flooding during Harvey, according to the county’s website.
“Since Harvey, we have made significant progress to make a more resilient community,” he said. “Our goal from [the Harris County Resiliency and Recovery Districts’] project was to get 4,000 homes out of the floodplain, and at least 20,000 homes will benefit from this flood reduction project.”
What they’re saying
With the hurricane season starting June 1, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones said it is important that projects are done in a timely manner to protect the community from potential flooding.
“One year ago, many of you all were here as we did the groundbreaking. Now, just one year later, we’re here delivering this project,” Briones said. “This is the pace at which the government should work, and that can only happen when you have the partnership and dedication of such wonderful dedicated team members.”
Briones also said she encouraged MUDs, management districts, cities and school districts in Precinct 4 to submit their ideas for 2024 infrastructure projects. Partnership project requests can be submitted here.
What else?
Precinct 4 officials held an April 30 ribbon-cutting for the Cimarron subdivision drainage project, which lowered the flood risk for 250 structures and took 77 structures out of the 100-year floodplain, Community Impact reported.
The $13.5 million Cimarron project began in January 2023 and wrapped up in March with improvements including:
- Larger drainage sewer pipes
- More capacity for curb inlets
- Water and sewer line adjustments
- Some new driveways and sidewalks
Rahman said a number of other projects from 2023 funding should be completed within the next 12-18 months, continuing progress on making the area more flood resistant.
