

A 720-acre gated master planned community located off Telge Road, just north of Willow Creek. See how EHRA was involved in this 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.
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.
EHRA designed an expansion that implemented the installation of a new triplex lift station operating in conjunction with the existing duplex lift station.
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.
Harris County Flood Control District’s (HCFCD) Zube Detention Basin and Conveyance Improvement Project began in 2015 and has officially opened the bidding of Phase 3 Construction Documents prepared by EHRA Engineering.
Phase 3 will lower the flowline of Little Cypress Creek by six feet and incorporate 9,300 feet of Natural Stabilized Channel in-stream structures. To lower the flowline, 492,000 cubic yards of material will be excavated for off-site disposal and 72,000 cubic yards of material for on-site fill. The current timeline for Phase 3 construction is around 18 months.
EHRA has a long history of assisting with the Zube Detention Basin project. EHRA designed the Ultimate Conditions for the detention basin and has assisted with two previous phases of construction.
The project is on-going as part of the Little Cypress Frontier Program, focusing on the 52-square-mile Little Cypress Creek Watershed in Northwest Harris County. The program itself is one component of HCFCD’s overall effort to plan for regional drainage infrastructure in advance of future land development.
According to the Harris County Flood Control District’s website, “The area, which is experiencing rapid development with construction of the Grand Parkway, lacks sufficient natural drainage to accommodate expected growth.” They have taken on an innovative approach to work in collaboration with landowners and developers to uncover the most cost-effective, mutually beneficial plan with the public and its future growth in mind.
The program calls for stricter stormwater detention requirements to mitigate runoff from new developments and will result in at least seven regional detention basins with a combined minimum storage of 14,000 acre-feet. The mission of the Harris County Flood Control District is to provide flood damage reduction projects that work, with appropriate regard for community and natural values.
EHRA Engineering is excited to see this project move onto the next phase!