Sugar Land officials are studying new ways to maintain the city’s streets and sidewalks through two new pilot programs beginning in mid-May.
The big picture
The pilot programs aim to identify more cost-effective materials to maintain the city’s streets and sidewalks, Public Works Assistant Director Keisha Seals said.
The streets program will address aging infrastructure by adding another layer of drivable service to prolong lifetime, while the sidewalks program will provide temporary materials to address sidewalk issues caused by tree roots, Seals said.
The street pilot program will measure the performance of asphalt overlay onto concrete roads, while the sidewalk pilot will test the durability of asphalt and decomposed granite on panels impacted by tree roots, Seals said.
Zooming in
Seals said the new materials will be installed at highly trafficked areas throughout the city including:
- Asphalt overlay on West Airport Boulevard between Imperial Canyon Lane and Cottonwood Court
- Sidewalk overlay on sidewalk panels impacted by trees along Settlers Way Boulevard
The street program will cost $201,740, while the sidewalks pilot is estimated to cost $17,500, city officials said in an email.
In case you missed it
Meanwhile, City Council approved a $1.4 million project April 15 with Cedros Paving Service LLC for citywide sidewalk rehabilitation and replacement to address the city’s growing maintenance backlog, Community Impact reported.
The project—funded by the city’s $350 million bond voters approved in November 2024—will begin in May with expected completion in January, city officials said. The bond earmarked $10 million for sidewalk repairs over five years.
Going forward
Installation for the streets pilot program is set to take place the week of May 19, while the sidewalk materials are set to be installed in June, city officials said in an email.
The street's asphalt on West Airport Boulevard will remain installed indefinitely, while the sidewalk materials will be removed when Settlers Way Boulevard is reconstructed in the next five to eight years, officials said.
