Northpark Drive Mobility Project

EHRA completed preliminary engineering, phase one environmental site assessment and schematic development for the widening of Northpark Dr. between US 59 and Woodland Hills Dr. EHRA also provided program management, drainage analysis and design, traffic engineering, environmental documentation and schematic design for the roadway, as well as grade separation at the Loop 494/UPRR railroad crossing.

EHRA conducted traffic operations and access management studies for the Northpark Dr. corridor. This corridor is approximately 2.2 miles long and has major signalized and unsignalized intersections and driveways that access various subdivisions and industrial developments. These studies laid the groundwork for the widening of Northpark Dr. from a four-lane boulevard cross-section to a six-lane boulevard complete street. The new street design includes low impact development drainage, conventional drainage, a grade separation at the UPRR crossing with mechanically stabilized earth retaining walls, two at-grade crossings for bi-directional frontage access, reconstruction of two concrete bridges over a diversion channel, intersection improvements, a roadway-adjacent multiuse path and traffic signal improvements.

Drainage analysis and design included hydrologic and hydraulic studies of both existing and proposed conditions to demonstrate that proposed project components would not adversely affect the 100-year floodplain in the area. The roadway and traffic designs contained horizontal and vertical alignments, cross-sections, plan and profile, sidewalk and bicycle accommodations, intersection layouts, traffic control plans and signing and pavement markings.

As the program management firm, EHRA coordinated with TxDOT, UPRR, the City of Houston Council District E, COH Planning and Development Department, COH Public Works and Engineering Department, Montgomery County, Harris County, HCFCD and area residents throughout the project.

Cane Island Parkway

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).

Cutten Green Park Northwest Harris County MUD No.6

This project was the second phase of parks implementation outlined in the District's Parks Master Plan, which was completed by EHRA in 2007. Utilizing the site of a recently demolished former wastewater treatment plant provided an opportunity to create a passive park space for District residents.

Harris County MUD No. 536 Wastewater Treatment Plant & On-Site Lift Station Expansion

The facility features an activated sludge process system. Additionally, the facility is equipped with an emergency standby diesel generator.

288 & CR56

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.

8 July 2021

Setting and Achieving Goals

ASHLEY SOWARDS E.I.T. Engineer II Public Works

The College Years

I knew that I would have to work to pay my way through college and although it didn’t scare me, I knew it would be hard. I am a first-generation college graduate, and the only one of my four siblings to attend college. I always had endless love and support from my family, but being the first one to do something always comes with challenges. I didn’t have a parent or older sibling that could give me advice or help me chose a major. I had the opportunity to design my own life and didn’t let social or economic factors get in my way.

When I took my first internship my senior year of college, I was nervous. I had been working two jobs coaching cheerleading the last four years so that I could earn my degree. I loved coaching and was scared to actually dive into the career I’d been working so hard for. Would I even like civil engineering? When I first started, I didn’t like the feeling of not knowing what to do. But, like everything else in my life, I took it as a challenge. I set myself goals to make sure that at the end of every workday, I had learned or mastered something new. In that time, I found out I genuinely love what I do. I have always been someone who over thinks and over analyzes everything, so civil engineering gave me a creative and useful outlet for these qualities.

AFTER COLLEGE

After three years of working in San Antonio, I had become the go to girl for all things public works on our team. I was managing, designing and producing my projects. Goal achieved, I made it. So, what was next for me? Something felt missing. I had already passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam and was starting to study for the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) Exam, both administered by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES), when I realized I wanted to work on different projects outside of my comfort zone. Call it an endless need to challenge myself. This, paired with the start of COVID-19, led me to Houston, Texas and EHRA Engineering.

I view myself as an independent and strong woman. So, when I chose civil engineering as a career path, the fact that it is a male dominated field did not deter me. I was one of the only females in most of my classes; I even had professors ask me if I was in the right class. While working in San Antonio, I was always one of very few women in the room. When I came to EHRA, I was pleasantly surprised to find myself working alongside so many female engineers. I am proud to say I work at an engineering firm where there are women in all tiers of the company.

Since passing the PE Exam this April, I now look forward to the next chapter of my career and becoming a licensed professional engineer in December.

I think it’s important to always have a goal in mind, or something to work on or improve. We are constantly learning and finding better ways to do things, no matter what stage we are at.

ASHLEY SOWARDS

PUBLIC WORKS