713-627-3200
On This Page
Project Information
Gessner Road Paving & Drainage from Richmond to Buffalo Bayou City of Houston 1/12/2015 3:02:53 PMProject Narrative
The street surface is in poor condition and is approaching the end of its useful life expectancy. The 4-lane roadway has insufficient capacity for the projected 2035 traffic volumes, outdated traffic signals, sidewalk, and curb ramps, need major mobility improvement at intersections which impede efficient traffic flows. Major traffic generators include two major shopping centers (Wood Lake Square, Memorial Mall) Memorial City Medical Center, and two schools (Frostwood Elementary, Tenney School). Additionally, the present drainage system does not adequately accommodate the area flooding or convey the 2-year or 100-year storm event. Underground utilities in the project area are built in the early 1970s and are in poor condition. The planned project will enhance of general mobility in the area by increasing road capacity from four (4) to six (6) lanes and traffic signal upgrades. The Gessner Project will benefit mobility for METRO bus lines, Improve traffic flow and circulation within the project corridor with adequate level of services for vehicular and pedestrian traffic. It will also Improve the safety of multi-modal mobility classification to enhance the Citywide Mobility Plan, reduce the degradation of air quality caused by traffic delays or congestion. The proposed Improvements at the intersection of Gessner and Westheimer will include additional lanes and/or grade separation to accommodate future travel demands. Furthermore, the roadway drainage system will be heightened to improve area flooding during low and high frequency storm events in compliance with current City design standards. Gessner Road from Richmond to Buffalo Bayou is currently a MTP-100 . The proposed Paving & Drainage improvements will widen Gessner from an existing four lanes to six lanes, construct a bridge along Westheimer (grade separation), replaces traffic signals and upgrade storm, water and wastewater lines as necessary. Alternatives were studied for improvements to Westheimer intersection. Alternatives, in brief, were considered for the intersection of Westheimer at Gessner alternative eliminated the depressing of Gessner while the operation of the roundabout was improved by providing free right turn lanes in all directions to remove right turns from the roundabout. The width of these turning lanes are based on truck turning without provisions for passing a stalled vehicle as in the case of a stall, the roundabout would be available for right turn traffic. This alternative requires the total take of existing business centers at the northwest and southwest corners of the intersection as well as the service station at the southeast corner. The full alternatives will be discussed with TxDOT for further assessment and approval. Gessner from Buffalo Bayou to Richmond will be divided into three sub-projects.; Sub Project 1- Buffalo Bayou to Westheimer, cost $18,200,000.00 planned bid date May 2017. Sub Project 2- Westheimer to Richmond, cost $12,091,000.00, planned bid May 2019 and , Sub Project 3 - the overpass along Westheimer at Gessner intersection, cost $22,461,000.00, planned bid date May 2021.Project Narrative
No Environmental Assessment (EA) Please Select No 30/08/2016 Yes Acquisition for the five parcels necessary for sub-Project 3 (Westheimer overpass) will be funded during sub-project II in effort to complete acquistions prior to construction advertisment. 30/12/2017 No In accordance with the City of Houston Franchise Agreement Private Utility Providers are to relocate utilities at their own expense No Public Involvement Meetings will be held at 30% , and 60% design phases, at the pre-construction conference and as pre-determined by stakeholders during construction for each of the three (3) sub-projects. Sub Project 1 is currently in progress - 30 % Preliminary Engineering will be ready by January 2017.Map/Location
Evalutation Questions - Major Investments
Benefit/Cost Methodology
Please attach the completed BCA Excel worksheet and narrative explanation of analyses used