EHRA Engineering is proud to be the engineer for Preservation Creek, an almost 3,000-acre master planned community from W Land Development. This new project will sit at the southeast corner of SH 288 and FM 1462 in the City of Alvin and will set the tone as the first master planned community in this rapidly growing area.
With the continuous expansion of SH 288 to the north and the proposed Grand Parkway Segments B-2 and C less than a mile away, Preservation Creek will be located at an advantageous position to flourish in the region. Delivering a successful phase 1 for any project is a challenge, and for a master planned community, there are many steps to lay the foundation for long-term success.
Breaking ground of the first phase of a project of this size takes years of planning. EHRA started planning, surveying and conceptual engineering design in 2021. No tract of land is without its challenges. Early engineering work ensured that Preservation Creek’s site constraints were not just addressed but transformed into opportunities for the community. The required detention basins will serve a dual purpose, functioning also as amenity ponds that connect the neighborhoods by kayak. Additionally, the mitigation basins needed along Austin Bayou will be made into a massive regional park and nature reserve, creating a feature that the residents and the surrounding area can enjoy.
Establishing partnerships and good relationships with the local agencies is key for a successful project, and Preservation Creek is fortunate to have great partners supportive of its development. Preservation Creek sits on a unique tract within the Alvin City limits, but a number of miles southwest of the heart of the city. Early conversations with Alvin led the Preservation Creek team to develop a Planned Unit Development (PUD) to set the ground rules for this unique community. W Land wants Preservation Creek to offer as much as it can to the community, and that led the team to partner with Angleton Independent School District for multiple school sites in the development. Preservation Creek will also partner with the City of Alvin to provide a location for a Fire and Police station in the development. Early coordination and approval from Brazoria County Drainage District 5, Gulf Coast Water Authority and TxDOT were also key in getting this project kick started.
The Preservation Creek groundbreaking event on May 21st marked a big step forward in delivering the first phase of development. The water plant, wastewater treatment plant and detention ponds were the first construction projects to begin and were ongoing in the background. The individual sections were designed, and construction would begin shortly after. The location of this event would soon be the site of water, sewer, drainage and pavement construction for our first single-family section.
As we stand today, Preservation Creek has 8 construction jobs ongoing, with 13 more to begin in the coming months. The first phase will include three detention pond jobs totaling over 1,000,000 CY of excavation. Additionally, the first phase will include 11 single-family sections, three boulevard segments, a water plant, a wastewater treatment plant, a lift station, a TxDOT roadway project, multiple internal drainage projects and a water interconnect project.
Every single department at EHRA Engineering has had a hand in what we have done so far at Preservation Creek. This first phase is just the beginning for this groundbreaking community, and we still have some months to go until we hit that milestone. Once said and done, Phase 1 of Preservation Creek will deliver 786 lots, and will be a great beginning for this community.
