Addicks and Barker construction update

Published Oct. 29, 2015

GALVESTON, Texas (Oct. 29, 2015) – In the coming days, the public can expect to see construction impacts to the hike and bike trail system located at both the Addicks and Barker dams and reservoirs in Houston. 

 “Work will occur on the dams and areas adjacent to the dams that double as recreational sites such as George Bush and Bear Creek parks and our primary objective is to maintain public safety both by ensuring that the dams we own and operate are safe and that risks to the public are minimized,” said Natural Resource Manager Richard Long, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Galveston District. “We ask the public for patience while we replace the water control structures.”

According to Long, Granite Construction will begin preparing the area along the west side of the Corps’ Highway 6 parking lot at Buffalo Bayou, which provides parking and access for the Terry Hershey Park and the Barker Dam/George Bush Park hike and bike trails.

“Granite Construction will be installing temporary construction offices, clearing the vegetation in the area, removing three sidewalks (which serve the trail system) and installing fencing around the office perimeter,” said Long. “The public will no longer be able to use these three sidewalks however, the parking lot and public access to the trail system along the south end of the parking lot will remain available without change for the next few months.”

Long stated that even though access to the trail system will remain available on the south end of the parking lot, construction activities including the movement of heavy trucks and equipment in and out of the area will be occurring and caution should be exercised.

“The public should use extreme care while entering and leaving the parking lot with their vehicles and entering and leaving the trail system by foot or on bicycle,” said Long. “Additional changes to the trail system will be necessary as construction progresses and every reasonable effort will be made to inform the public in advance of these changes.”

The USACE Galveston District awarded a contract in the amount of $71,902,340 to Granite Construction Company for construction of new outlet structures at the Addicks and Barker Dams in west Houston. The contract was awarded in August 2015 and is expected to be completed in 2019.

The public is encouraged to contact staff at the Addicks Field Office at 281-497-0740. For additional information about the Addicks and Barker Dam Safety Program, please visit www.swg.usace.army.mil; email addicksandbarker@usace.army.mil or call 409-766-3004 or find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GalvestonDistrict. For news and information, visit www.swg.usace.army.mil. Find us on Facebook, www.facebook.com/GalvestonDistrict or follow us on Twitter, www.twitter.com/USACEgalveston.


Release no. 15-068