Houston Public Works Projects Lighting in the Thicket
The Plainwood "Speed Bump"
Back in July, the water main that runs under Plainwood near Last Arrow broke three separate times. After the last break, the City replaced the old pipe that had multiple repair compression fittings. What also happened is the water from each of the leaks was making it into the storm sewer underground. That meant the storm sewer had been compromised somewhere in the area. The City put in an asphalt patch that started buckling, collapsing and creating cavities - the "Speed Bump". We contacted the City (and our Councilmember) numerous times about this ongoing issue, but no action was taken until September. In September, a City crew came out to temporarily repair the patch to raise the asphalt back to the level from where it had settled. At that time, we were told a crew would come out to examine the storm sewer issue. The good news was the crew did find the problem with the line, which needs to be repaired prior to finalizing the street repair. Until today, nothing further had been done. As can be seen from the photograph above, a crew came out to work on the storm sewer line. Unfortunately, they cut the power line, which took out electricity to a number of homes. In addition, the storm sewer line break is in a different area, so all that could be done was fill the "speed bump" back in. A crew will come back to do another concrete cut and another concrete panel will have to be torn up to access the break. Once repaired, both areas will be replaced with concrete. Hopefully, we will see more work in the area this week to eventually get to the solution.
Old Stone Trail Lift Station Project
As mentioned in prior newsletters, the last part of the construction for this project is the removal of the bridge related to the lift stations (Old Stone Trail and Tanya Circle) as the new sanitary sewer pipes go under Buffalo Bayou and not across the current bridge. For more in-depth information, see Force Main Renewal for Plum Creek, Tanya Circle, and Old Stone Trail | Houston Public Works (engagehouston.org) Vaca Underground has completed removal of the abandoned FM Pipe. Vaca will plug the existing FM Lines at Old Stone Trail LS and MUD 107 LS using 10’’ & 8’’ Caps and will use water and disinfectant cleaner into the line pushing the waste with a 200 LF hose and a pump into MUD LS 107. Vaca removed and disposed of the FM Pipe.
Bridge with Pipe Removed (Looking North Across the Bayou to Memorial Thicket)
The Cranes Are Coming
The Crane Company will mobilize to the job site to begin the bridge demolition next week. While the removal of the bridge is still proposed to be done by two cranes, they have been reversed yet again (to our benefit). The 80 ton crane (80' radius) will come in through Memorial Thicket to the north side of the bayou and the 350 ton crane (155' radius) from the south, which will still require part of the trail in Terry Hershey Park to be closed for a few days. We are looking at a number of 18-wheelers that will need to drive through our neighborhood to set up the crane as shown in one of the images below. The Crane Company will have their own flaggers, and will set-up construction signs, but vehicles will have to be off the street while the crane is being brought in and when it leaves again. Day 1: Primary Staging Area (South Side- MUD 107 LS) To lay down mats and ensure all areas are protected, the crane company will have seven 18-wheelers to deliver the mats. The Crane company will have three 18-wheelers staged along Enclave Pkwy, and drive into the Terry Hershey Trail one at a time to minimize the impact to the surrounding citizens. Estimated time per truck will be 30 minutes. Day 2: Secondary Staging Area: (North Side- Old Stone Trail) An additional 80-Ton Crane will be delivered north of the bayou to assist the larger crane. Mats will also be delivered to this side. Day 2: South Side- Behind MUD 107 LS (Terry Hershey Bike and Trail) To assemble the 350-Ton crane, there will need to be sufficient clearance at Bayou Pkwy cul-de-sac to allow for five 18-wheelers to deliver the necessary equipment including the matting. Trucks will be staged along Enclave Pkwy, while one truck unloads another will be called to unload one at a time. Estimated time per truck will be 45 minutes. Following assembly, the bridge removal operation will begin on Day 2. The 80-Ton crane located on the Old Stone Trail LS will be used for one day to assist the larger crane. Days 3 & 4: South Side- Behind MUD 107 LS The crane will continue to remove the beams. To haul-off all five beams there will be three 18-wheelers set-up to deliver material to Cherry Concrete for recycling. The next step will be to remove caps and structures. Vaca will assist by cutting with a concrete hand saw. Pillars will be cut 3’ below grade and backfilled accordingly. The two sets of pillars currently in the bayou will be cut to mudline. All remaining concrete will be cut and removed from the site. Day 5: The crane company will demobilize their equipment.
Bridge Demolition Activity Dates As of 18 October 2022
*Dates are subject to change
START DATE | END DATE | DESCRIPTION |
Monday, October 3, 2022 | Monday, October 3, 2022 | Install TCP/Pre Con Pictures |
Tuesday, October 4, 2022 | Tuesday, October 4, 2022 | Trimming Shrubs/Vegetation |
Wednesday, October 5 2022 | Friday, October 7, 2022 | Begin removing FM Pipe |
Friday, October 7, 2022 | Friday, October 7, 2022 | Haul Away Abandoned Pipe |
​Monday, October 24, 2022 @7am | Monday, October 24, 2022 @5pm | ​Mat Set-Up for Cranes |
Tuesday, October 25, 2022 @7am | Tuesday, October 25, 2022 @5pm | Mobilization for Crane & Set-Up |
Wednesday, October 26, 2022 | Thursday, October 27, 2022 | Beam Removal |
Friday, October 28, 2022 | Friday, October 28, 2022 | Bridge Columns /Cut-Off & Removal |
Friday, October 28, 2022 | Friday, October 28, 2022 | Beams Hauled Off |
Friday, October 28, 2022 @7am | Friday, October 28, 2022 @5pm | ​Bridge Columns /Cut-Off & Removal |
Saturday, October 29, 2022 @7am | Saturday, October 29, 2022 @5pm | Crane Disassembly and Demo |
Monday, October 31, 2022 | Monday, October 31, 2022 | Haul-Away Pile foundation from Bayou |
Tuesday, November 1, 2022 | Tuesday, November 1, 2022 | ​Clean-Up Bayou Debris |
Wednesday, November 2, 2022 | Saturday, November 5, 2022 | Restoration |
Saturday, November 5, 2022 | Friday, November 11, 2022 | VACA Demo |
Lighting in Memorial Thicket
Earlier this year, we updated the lighting plan at the front of the neighborhood to provide better coverage through illuminating the Memorial Thicket monuments, other signs and the front flower beds; lighting both inbound and outbound lanes of Plainwood for the guards to have better visuals; and removing the CenterPoint pole as it no longer served a valid purpose (and we had to pay the electricity for it). What You Can Do: You may have noticed that the lighting we have at the front is consider "warm". There are a couple of reasons for this. First, "warm" lights continue the uniformity we generally have in our neighborhood. Second, "warm" lights (3000k or less) actually create less light pollution than "cool" lights (such as 5000k) due to the scattering effect of "cooler" lights. As a result, with "warm" lights we are able to see the night sky better. Until a few years ago, almost everyone had "warm" outside lights. For both continuity and light pollution reasons, we ask that you only use "warm" lights outside and to keep them facing down (or at least not into the sky) as much as possible. While we may not be able to see the Milky Way here in the Thicket (though you can go to Brazos Bend State Park to view it on the right nights), we do have the ability to see a number of stars and some planets right here as can be seen below. Not only heavenly bodies, but a friend in Marywood told me how he saw the International Space Station cross the sky this morning as he was walking the bayou.
Moon and Saturn from Memorial Thicket
SAT OCT 22 1 PM It's Fall Y'all NOTTINGHAM PARK, 14205 Kimberly Lane Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner R. Jack Cagle is holding a pumpkin patch and fall festival for the Energy Corridor with crafts, treats, games and fall photo ops for the family!
Greg Sergesketter Director 815 Elk Run Circle 713.234.0604
October 19, 2022
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