Project Brays- The widening of Brays Bayou
Brays Bayou Federal Flood Control Project Channel “Project Brays” is Moving Along
The Brays Bayou Federal Flood Control Project channel modifications on Brays Bayou from Bertner Ave. to 2,200 feet upstream of Buffalo Speedway is finally moving forward. In an effort to keep you up-to-date on the Harris County Flood Control District’s (HCFCD) continuation of improvements in the Brays Bayou watershed, the HCFCD will continue with the next phase of channel modifications on Brays Bayou within the vicinity of the Braeswood area.
Project Brays is a multi-year cooperative effort between the HCFCD and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. This $480 million is a project that will substantially reduce flooding risks in the Brays Bayou watershed. During this construction phase of widening the bayou from Bertner Ave to 2,200
feet upstream of Buffalo Speedway, the HCFCD will excavate approximately 300,000 cubic yards of soil, and will construct retaining walls from downstream of Braeswood Blvd. to upstream of Kirby Dr. These operations require the use of large trucks to carry the excavated soil from the construction site for off-site disposal, and to pour the concrete for the retaining walls. All motorists and pedestrians are encouraged to be alert to large truck traffic when passing near the construction access points. The HCFCD appreciates the public’s patience and apologize for any inconvenience caused.
To make way for the channel modification project, the HCFCD will have to clear some trees and vegetation. When construction is complete, the District is committed to replanting trees and shrubs along the bayou during the next planting season. To date, the HCFCD has planted approximately 38,700 trees along completed sections of Brays Bayou, and at four regional stormwater detention basins.
Overall, the contractor for this segment of the Project Brays project is SER Construction Partners LLC. The reported contract amount is $14.2 million (approximately) with a construction start date of June 2016 and an anticipated completion date of August 2017.
In summation, Project Brays includes the widening of 21 miles of Brays Bayou from the Houston Ship Channel to Fondren Road and from West Houston Center Blvd. to State Highway 6; the replacement or modification of 32 bridges to accommodate channel modifications; and excavation of four stormwater
detention basins that will hold a collective 3.5 billion gallons of stormwater. To date, more than $300 million has been spent on multiple components of Project Brays. More information is available at www.projectbrays.org.
