Houston: Builder selected for Grand Parkway F-G

[MaxConcrete]

The team of Zachry-Odebrecht was the winner in the four-team competition to build the 38-mile section of the Grand Parkway toll road from US 290 to US 59/I-69 north. The winner's score was substantially better than the second place bid.

Announced Thursday, the winning bid was $1.1 billion.

The project will be fully open by March 2015.

More at these links
Presentation of selection process.
http://www.txdot.gov/about_us/commission/2012_meetings/documents/minute_orders/sep27/4afinal.pdf

http://www.dot.state.tx.us/news/046-2012.htm
http://www.dot.state.tx.us/project_information/projects/houston/sh99_grand_parkway/developer_proposals.htm

[TXtoNJ]

The team of Zachry-Odebrecht was the winner in the four-team competition to build the 38-mile section of the Grand Parkway toll road from US 290 to US 59/I-69 north. The winner's score was substantially better than the second place bid.

Announced Thursday, the winning bid was $1.1 billion.

The project will be fully open by March 2015.

More at these links
Presentation of selection process.
http://www.txdot.gov/about_us/commission/2012_meetings/documents/minute_orders/sep27/4afinal.pdf

http://www.dot.state.tx.us/news/046-2012.htm
http://www.dot.state.tx.us/project_information/projects/houston/sh99_grand_parkway/developer_proposals.htm

Wow. Can't believe they're actually getting this done. Then again, I never thought they'd be building the ExxonMobil ops headquarters there, either.

[txstateends]

The team of Zachry-Odebrecht was the winner in the four-team competition to build the 38-mile section of the Grand Parkway toll road from US 290 to US 59/I-69 north. The winner's score was substantially better than the second place bid.

Announced Thursday, the winning bid was $1.1 billion.

The project will be fully open by March 2015.

More at these links
Presentation of selection process.
http://www.txdot.gov/about_us/commission/2012_meetings/documents/minute_orders/sep27/4afinal.pdf

http://www.dot.state.tx.us/news/046-2012.htm
http://www.dot.state.tx.us/project_information/projects/houston/sh99_grand_parkway/developer_proposals.htm

Wow. Can't believe they're actually getting this done. Then again, I never thought they'd be building the ExxonMobil ops headquarters there, either.

[TXtoNJ]

The team of Zachry-Odebrecht was the winner in the four-team competition to build the 38-mile section of the Grand Parkway toll road from US 290 to US 59/I-69 north. The winner's score was substantially better than the second place bid.

Announced Thursday, the winning bid was $1.1 billion.

The project will be fully open by March 2015.

More at these links
Presentation of selection process.
http://www.txdot.gov/about_us/commission/2012_meetings/documents/minute_orders/sep27/4afinal.pdf

http://www.dot.state.tx.us/news/046-2012.htm
http://www.dot.state.tx.us/project_information/projects/houston/sh99_grand_parkway/developer_proposals.htm

Wow. Can't believe they're actually getting this done. Then again, I never thought they'd be building the ExxonMobil ops headquarters there, either.

ExxonMobil is building their operations headquarters in the north part of Spring, just south of the Woodlands off of I-45. It will be just north of where the Grand Parkway intersects I-45. Once the location of the headquarters was set, the Grand Parkway went from being mired in a slog of community opposition to being put on the extreme fast-track.

[Perfxion]

The Grand Parkway section G might be built faster than F2 due to the construction of Exxon-Mobil, I know a lot of sub divisions in that area are going from weed filled wooded forest to open lands with dirt cutouts of the roads. I would not be shocked if by 2017 if the whole project isn't complete.

[Grzrd]

This June 11 article provides an update on the construction schedule this summer:

Officials expect to move forward with key portions of the Grand Parkway this summer, announced Linda Merritt, a representative with Zachry-Odebrecht Parkway Builders, to Cy-Fair Houston Chamber members Thursday.
"Construction has not officially begun yet ... We got approval for phase 1, which is notice to proceed, on March 22,"  said Linda Merritt, a representative with Zachry-Odebrecht Parkway Builders. "Then there is phase 2 — that is the absolute final agreement of all contract details and approval of plans that are in place."
Before the project moves forward, the company needs that final notice and one more environmental permit for section G, which runs from I-45 to Highway 59, said Merritt.
In March, Zachry-Odebrecht won a $1.1 billion contract to build a 38-mile segment of the grand Parkway from US 290 to US 59. With a construction schedule of a maximum of 845 days, the project is set to finish in 2015. ....
construction should be visible by early-summer.
Projects will start at key interchanges with a focus on US 290, I-45 and US 59, said Merritt. The company will work with the Harris County Toll Road Authority on the Hardy Toll Road and SH 249 interchanges. Currently, the company has been testing soil samples through geotechnical drilling to make sure the soil will support the structures.
"Construction will begin simultaneously, meaning we're not starting at one end and working our way to another,"  said Merritt. "As we prioritize construction at these interchanges, the construction will move in toward each other."
The entire project will involve 120 bridges, 10 million cubic yards of dirt, 1 million cubic yards of concrete 250,000 linear feet drill shaft foundation, said Merritt. Zachary Odebrecht will work closely with Webber Engineering to coordinate construction details and traffic management planning at SH 290 where Segment E and F1 met. Construction on SH 290 is scheduled to begin mid-to-late July.
The interchange at SH 99 and SH 290 will require more than 600 calendar days to construct.

[FreewayDan]

As of this afternoon, I saw construction signs already up along I-45 between Louetta Road and the Hardy Toll Road.

[Perfxion]

Clearing has begun near by to start the ramp building. Plus by 290, clearing has begun on the Northside for the ramps there as well. This project seems to be a full go. Interesting part is going to be around SH249. Highway ramps going near a half built highway. And looking that they are going I-45  and US290 to the center. That would leave right to this area. They might be forced to continue work to connect all these highways together.

[thisdj78]

Clearing has begun near by to start the ramp building.

At I-45?

[Perfxion]

Yes sorry, where Dan was talking about.

[Grzrd]

This June 28 TV video report reports on construction progress and includes a map showing overall progress on the Grand Parkway:

The construction underway on the Katy Freeway at Highway 99 is significant. By the end of the year, it'll provide a faster connection from Highway 290 to I-10 for those who live well past Beltway 8 ....
As the work on the northwest side of the parkway is wrapping up, work on three new sections is just getting underway.
"Construction will be taking place simultaneously on each one of the segments with a dedicated team," said Linda Merritt with Zachry Odebrecht Parkway Builders.
It's a two-and-half year, $1.1 billion project that runs from Highway 290 to 249, 249 to I-45 and I-45 to Highway 59, adding 38 miles to the parkway's north side.

[FreewayDan]

Here is a video of the proposed Grand Parkway interchange with I-45:
http://youtu.be/oT8pTzJcrLQ


Due to a funding issue, only two flyover ramps are being built at this time.
http://impactnews.com/houston-metro/the-woodlands/officials-push-for-construction-of-grand-parkway,-i-45-direc/


I find this unacceptable, considering the fact that ExxonMobil's future operations headquarters close-by.

[NE2]

I find this unacceptable, considering the fact that ExxonMobil's future operations headquarters close-by.

I find corporate welfare unacceptable.

[FreewayDan]

I find this unacceptable, considering the fact that ExxonMobil's future operations headquarters close-by.

I find corporate welfare unacceptable.

What I find more unacceptable is how TxDot builds out these interchanges.  For example, the I-45 North Freeway interchange with Beltway 8.  Prior to the Sam Houston Tollway opening in 1990, there were two flyover ramps: NB 45 to EB Beltway 8 and WB Beltway 8 to SB 45.  Then in 1998, the next ramps to open were SB 45 to WB Beltway 8 and EB Beltway 8 to NB I-45.  The remaining flyover ramps were finished by 2003. 

[Perfxion]

If Exxon-Mobil wants to make sure the highway has full direct connections so everyone can get to its compound. It wouldn't even take 1% of its quarterly net profits to fund this project. Why should someone in western, Texas have to fund pork in Houston?

[Anthony_JK]

Here is a video of the proposed Grand Parkway interchange with I-45:
http://youtu.be/oT8pTzJcrLQ


Due to a funding issue, only two flyover ramps are being built at this time.
http://impactnews.com/houston-metro/the-woodlands/officials-push-for-construction-of-grand-parkway,-i-45-direc/


I find this unacceptable, considering the fact that ExxonMobil's future operations headquarters close-by.

Sounds acceptable to me, since this mostly will be used for traffic to/from DFW attempting to escape downtown Houston. No real need for the full direct connectors yet until the entire mainlane is complete.

[Grzrd]

Clearing has begun near by to start the ramp building.

At I-45?

Yes sorry, where Dan was talking about.

I find this unacceptable, considering the fact that ExxonMobil's future operations headquarters close-by.

I find corporate welfare unacceptable.

A lot has happened in the past two years. This August 19 article includes photographs of the I-45/ Grand Parkway interchange construction and reports that Segments F1, F2, and G should be open to traffic in the fourth quarter of 2015, possibly as soon as October:

Three sections of the Grand Parkway in north Houston are on track to be completed by the end of this year.
Members of the Greater Tomball Area Chamber of Commerce Mobility and Transportation Committee received an update on the progress of the Grand Parkway segments connecting U.S. 290 to Interstate 69 ....
Ibette Cavasos, public information officer for Zachry-Odebrecht Parkway Builders, which is building segments F1, F2 and G between U.S. 290 in Cypress to I-69 north of Kingwood, said the three segments are on track to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2015 ....
The Grand Parkway was a significant driver in luring Exxon Mobil to relocate their headquarters from Fairfax, Va., and move 20,000 employees and their families to a new headquarters off Interstate 45 and the Grand Parkway.
The new headquarters opened in March ....
Segment F1: A 12.0 mile, four-lane, controlled access toll road with intermittent frontage roads from U.S. 290 to Texas 249 through Harris County. Currently under construction and projected to be completed by October 2015.
Segment F2: A 12.1-mile, four-lane, controlled access toll road with intermittent frontage roads from Texas 249 to I-45 north through Harris County. Under construction and projected completion by October 2015.
Segment G: A 13.7-mile,four-lane,controlled access toll road with intermittent frontage roads from I-45 north to I-69 through Harris and Montgomery counties. Under construction and projected to be completed October 2015.

[txstateends]

BTW, although ExxonMobil will have a sizeable presence in The Woodlands, the actual company HQ will still be in Irving (unless something happens to change the minds of the suits, depending on the size and scope of the complex in The Woodlands, it might be a suitable HQ should they decide to do so later on).

[TXtoNJ]

BTW, although ExxonMobil will have a sizeable presence in The Woodlands, the actual company HQ will still be in Irving (unless something happens to change the minds of the suits, depending on the size and scope of the complex in The Woodlands, it might be a suitable HQ should they decide to do so later on).

Technically, yes - but the operations HQ will be far bigger than the corporate HQ in Irving. They've stated in the past that they want them separated, as they're two entirely different beasts, and don't want one side leaking over into the other.

[The Ghostbuster]

When might we see a completed Grand Parkway? 10 years? 20 years? 30?

[TXtoNJ]

When might we see a completed Grand Parkway? 10 years? 20 years? 30?

Depends on how you define "completed". If you're talking about every segment, probably never - I don't see Segment A ever getting completed as currently proposed, as it would be disruptive to surrounding communities (i.e. Tilman Fertitta doesn't want construction screwing with Kemah cash). It'll probably be replaced by an extension of the NASA Parkway, and possibly toll lanes for Red Bluff Rd and Fairmount Pkwy.

As for the fully funded projects, probably by 2030 or so.

[MaxConcrete]

Photos taken today at and near US 59/I-69 north of Houston


Looking north along US 59


Looking west from US 59.
Somewhat larger image https://1968d90e831cd27d2017897e0c81e9a12852eb10.googledrive.com/host/0B4gwdXQk1LyieHZHSTBqd0VJSnc/aaroads/20150906_g_pkwy-0039-1200.jpg


Looking northwest. Only two connection ramps are being built in the current construction project.


Somewhat larger image https://1968d90e831cd27d2017897e0c81e9a12852eb10.googledrive.com/host/0B4gwdXQk1LyieHZHSTBqd0VJSnc/aaroads/20150906_g_pkwy-0018-1200.jpg
Looking east at FM 1314. The median is surprisingly narrow. There is space to add only two more lanes. I'm assuming there will be a concrete or wire rope barrier with such a narrow median. It is disappointing so see low design standards on a new project, but on these toll projects the only thing that matters is the money so these compromises get made to stay within budget.
 
 

[Bobby5280]

At least there is a median. There are plenty of toll roads and even stretches of non-tolled Interstate highways where the two opposing roadways are practically joined together and separated only by a guard rail, concrete Jersey barrier or cable barrier. Most of I-44 in Oklahoma was built like this. Same for much of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. About half of the new Chisholm Trail Parkway going South of Fort Worth has both directions of travel butted together on what looks like only half of the actual roadway.

To me, low standards would be slapping down some asphalt and calling it a day. The Grand Parkway segments pictured look like there is plenty of ROW to add more lanes to the outside if needed.

[dfwmapper]

The southern portion of CTP is only half of the ultimate roadway. It was built in an interim 2+1 configuration because toll revenues aren't expected to be high enough to pay for a full 4 lane freeway for another decade or two. All the ROW is there for new southbound lanes to be built in the future, and if you look at it in Google Maps you'll see that the southbound exit/entrance ramps are longer than northbound, so that when the new lanes are built, they won't need to rebuild the ramps in order to maintain adequate acceleration/deceleration distance.

[MaxConcrete]

I posted photos taken today

http://houstonfreeways.com/photos/grand-parkway-october-2015

It looks like the westmost section, from US 290 to SH 249, could be ready for opening soon. From SH 249 eastward to US 59 there is still a lot of work to be done, so I'm thinking those sections will open in spring and summer of 2016.