The purpose of this project was to convert the existing at-grade crossing of Brazoria County Road 56 (CR 56) and State Highway 288 (SH 288) into a diamond interchange that includes a new overpass bridge. Coordination with TXDOT, area landowners, utility companies, and Brazoria County was integral in obtaining approval and acceptance of the project.
In 2006, Caldwell Companies sought to create Towne Lake as a community where residents and services could be connected by water. Their vision included boat docks and marinas augmenting traditional walking trails to navigate a vibrant residential community. EHRA was the perfect partner to take Caldwell Companies’ vision and create this livable suburban oasis.
The new roadway design comprises of one-half major thoroughfare, conventional drainage, a 600-ft long bridge over Willow Fork Bayou, Retaining walls and intersection improvements at FM 1463 (including traffic signals and illumination).
EHRA worked with the District to create a comprehensive Parks Master Plan, which included recommendations for the development of over two miles of hike/bike trails adjacent to local streets, and within flood control and utility pipeline easements. The District began implementation of the Plan by prioritizing the beautification of West Road, a major arterial street that runs through the District.
There are many different routes to take in engineering. Why did you choose this route? When I first started school, I quickly realized that my options were restricted due to economic reasons. I decided to join to the military to help pay for school expenses. Even though this is not a typical route, it was more than well worth it. It took me five years to complete my undergraduate studies and obtain my Bachelors of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Texas at Tyler - Houston Engineering Center.
Did you always know you wanted to become a civil engineer? When I was in 9th grade, I was exposed to a class project that involved using nothing but straws, string and toothpicks to build a model bridge. This quickly sparked my interest in a field that involved construction. However, not clearly knowing the distinction between Engineering and Architecture, I chose Architecture straight out of high school. I quickly regretted this decision and decided to switch my major to Civil Engineering.
What was your favorite EHRA project that you’ve worked on and why? Northwest Park MUD Water Plant is my first project that I started working on at EHRA. Some aspects that have made this project both challenging and interesting include designing infrastructure around the existing blue creek subdivision, in a 0.75- acre site to include on-site detention. I was able to apply multiple concepts that I learned in engineering school, such as sizing detention and storm pipe calculations. Having all these constraints, and using concepts learned in engineering school made this project my favorite one that I've worked on.
If you were stranded on a deserted island, what three engineering tools would you want? Hammer, nails and a hand saw.
