Friendswood City Council received an update on a number of transportation and development projects taking place throughout the city.

What readers need to know

The following projects were presented as part of an update given at City Council’s Dec. 2 meeting:

Blackhawk Boulevard Phase II
  • Project: Stretching from Pennystone Way to FM 2351, as well as Thursa Lane to FM 528, this project calls on the contractor to complete west and east halves of the road.
  • Update: The contractor has experienced "significant" cash flow issues and exceeded the project’s timeline, according to city documents. As a result, work on the east half will be put into the next part of the phase, which is currently in the permitting process with the Texas Department of Transportation.
  • Timeline: Officials said the package for the second part of Phase II will be ready to go out for bid in 2025.
  • Cost: $9.6 million
  • Funding source: Street improvement sales tax, water and sewer working capital, and a partnership with Harris County Precinct 2. Friendswood will take on 50% of total cost.
24-inch water line crossing project
  • Project: This involves installing a 24-inch water transmission line from Blackhawk Boulevard to FM 518
  • Update: A contract for the project was approved at Friendswood City Council’s Dec. 2 meeting
  • Timeline: Officials said the timeline was to be determined following the approval of the contract.
  • Cost: $4.98 million
  • Funding source: Funds come from water and sewer bonds, and funds from the American Rescue Plan Act.
Tank project at surface water plant
  • Project: Construction of a new ground storage tank to enhance water storage capacity at Blackhawk Boulevard near FM 528
  • Update: A contract for the project was awarded at City Council’s Dec. 2 meeting.
  • Timeline: Officials said the timeline is to be determined following the approval of the contract but will likely take about a year to build out.
  • Cost: $5.02 million
  • Funding source: Funds come from water and sewer bonds, and funds from the American Rescue Plan Act.
Tank rehabilitation project
  • Project: Rehabilitation of tanks across the city
  • Update: Work is ongoing on the last tank at surface water plant No. 1, which includes structural repairs and repainting.
  • Timeline: Officials expect work to wrap up in the first quarter of 2025.
  • Cost: $1.9 million
  • Funding source: Water and sewer bonds
Wastewater master plan
  • Project: A new master plan for the city’s wastewater infrastructure that will include a wastewater model, updated flow monitoring, a lift station consolidation assessment and a capital improvement plan for wastewater.
  • Update: Officials awarded the project for the plan in October.
  • Timeline: City staff will present findings to City Council once the project is completed, which should take about a year.
  • Cost: $698,000
  • Funding source: Water and sewer bonds
Friendswood Master Trail Plan
  • Project: From the Houston-Galveston Area Council, the project will include looking at existing conditions of the city’s trails and include recommendations for future strategies.
  • Update: Officials said there will be an update to the city’s parks master plan soon but did not specify when. This trail plan will build on that plan.
  • Timeline: Public meeting dates and a kickoff meeting are still pending
  • Cost: Part of $500,000
  • Funding source: H-GAC is funding the entire plan.
Friendswood Parkway Corridor Study
  • Project: A study of roads and corridors in Friendswood, which will take into account available right-of-way and ongoing development.
  • Update: A kickoff meeting has been held and the first stakeholder meeting is scheduled.
  • Timeline: Public meeting dates for the project are still pending.
  • Cost: Part of $500,000
  • Funding source: H-GAC is funding the entire plan.
What else?

A handful of projects that are funded by H-GAC are also in the works, officials said. TxDOT has begun engineering work on projects at the following intersections:
  • Additional lanes at FM 528 and Bay Area Boulevard
  • A new northbound right-turn lane at FM 528 and Winding Way Drive
  • Dual left-turn lanes along FM 528 at FM 518
  • Restriping and reprogramming traffic signals to add a second left-turn lane to southbound Sunset Drive at FM 528
The cost for these projects, coming in at $2.6 million, comes from H-GAC carry-over funds, according to the city documents. The city is providing a 20% local match, half of which can go to another transportation project.


Stay tuned

Friendswood city staff are planning to present a few key contracts in January for approval, according to city documents. Those include:
  • A master drainage plan
  • Implementation services for a ground storage tank at groundwater plant No. 4
  • Implementation services for The Annalea Neighborhood Infrastructure Project, which officials said will include road work and storm sewer upgrades
  • Construction contract for utility relocation at Clear Creek Utility Bridge