The city of Sugar Land awarded AIA Engineers a $286,890 contract to design the reconstruction of Austin Parkway—a more than 30-year-old road in need of pavement repairs and utility improvements.

The overall $1.5 million project is expected to reconstruct 4,100 feet of roadway between Hwy. 6 and Commonwealth Boulevard. It will include water line replacements, sidewalk repair as needed, improved storm water infrastructure and landscaping services, said city engineer Chris Steubing.

The approximately six-month design process for the Austin Parkway reconstruction is expected to be completed in mid- to late 2014 with road construction slated to begin by the end of the year.

The Austin Parkway reconstruction is part of the city's large-scale roadway assessment program, which makes up about $30 million in capital improvement projects throughout the community.

"Our roadway assessment program is an important tool used to identify streets in need of repair," City Manager Allen Bogard said. "It ensures that we proactively plan for future needs and budget the required resources to address these projects. Our residents expect a well-maintained road system, and we take this responsibility seriously."

In November, Sugar Land City Council awarded Kaluza and Associates a $385,560 contract for street reconstruction designs for Lakefield Way and Great Lakes Avenue in the Lakefield subdivision. Street construction is expected to begin in late 2014 or early 2015, Steubing said.

Other streets targeted for repair by the city include Williams Trace Boulevard, Dairy Ashford Road, Sweetwater Boulevard and Elkins Road along with several roads within the Settlers Park and Highlands communities.

The city plans to continue refining the costs associated with the citywide road reconstruction projects before moving forward with construction, Steubing said.