The city of Friendswood is making progress on multiple flood control projects that have been in the works the past few years.
The updates were presented at the Feb. 7 Friendswood City Council meeting by Deputy Director of Engineering Samantha Haritos.
The Clear Creek utility relocation has finished its engineering design and had its permits approved by the Harris County Flood Control District and the Army Corps of Engineers.
The project, located by the Polly Ranch subdivision’s park, will relocate three utility lines by a public bridge that have been at risk for flooding damage, according to Arias. The bridge will also be demolished and in total will cost $1.5 million, as previously reported by Community Impact Newspaper.
Some of the next steps for the project include sending out sealed bids, presenting a selected contractor to Friendswood City Council and starting construction.
Detention basin progress
Meanline, the city also gave updates on two of their detention basin projects. The Forest Bend detention basin project had its engineering plans approved by the HCFCD on Jan. 21, according to agenda documents.
Located along FM 528 in Forest Bend Park, the 53-acre-foot pond will act as flood plain storage for the area. The project will also construct concrete trails with solar lighting for the park. It is expected to go out to bid in February with the council awarding a contract in April or May. The construction on it is estimated to take 288 days.
“It’s going to be really nice compared to what’s out there now,” Haritos said.
The FM 1959 detention basin is now being estimated to cost around $38 million despite the original estimate being $30 million to $36 million, as previously reported by Community Impact Newspaper.
The detention basin, located near the border of Friendswood and Pearland, would reduce the risk of flooding for Friendswood as well as providing recreational opportunities, according to documents presented by Arias at the Sept. 13 Friendswood City Council meeting.
The city is also reporting that the project will be on the list of potential partnership projects that the HCFCD is presenting to Harris County Commissioners Court. The city of Friendswood will also potentially be partnering with Galveston County, the Galveston County Consolidated Drainage District and the HCFCD on the project to help cover the costs.
“We’ve had really positive input from Harris County Flood Control District,” Haritos said.
