Construction is moving forward on Phase 3 of the Sugar Creek drainage project in Sugar Land. City Council approved a design for work along Longview Drive and at the Sugar Creek Country Club golf course to reduce street ponding in the area, while a construction contract was approved March 15.

The project will involve storm-drain improvements along Longview Drive, and underground pipes will run along the homes on Bendwood Drive that back up to the sixth and ninth holes on the golf course. The existing lake will be expanded, and a new lake will be built, Sugar Land Senior Engineer Shashi Kumar said.

The project will transform an open drainage system concept to an underground concept and move the alignment further away from the homes as well as the foundations, he said.

Kumar said the country club will lead the construction done on its own property—to be reimbursed by the city—which he said would last from May to September.

The city would begin work on Longview Drive after the golf course construction is finished. Kumar said that portion of the work could last eight to 12 months.

He said he did not expect any streets to have to be completely closed to conduct the drainage work.

The city originally budgeted $10.23 million for the Longview Drive and golf course work, according to the 2016-20 Capital Improvement Plan. 

The alternative design being used would add about $2 million to the construction cost, Kumar said.

“We do have sufficient funds to do this piece [of the drainage project],” he said.

The drainage project started in 2005 after a study of the Sugar Creek Watershed determined flood control mechanisms were needed, according to city documents.

Together, the Longview Drive and country club work are one of five components within Phase 3.

Residents on Bendwood Drive opposed the original design for the Longwood Drive work because they were concerned an open drain system behind their homes would affect property values and aesthetics.

“I’d like to thank the council for bringing this [new design] forward,” Bendwood Drive resident John Loper said.