HeyHatch Posted October 14, 2008 Share Posted October 14, 2008 Big News! Saw the crew out today at the corner of 16th & Nich with a small version of the thing that rolls out the ground, the official name for that machine may or may not be "roller-outer-thingy." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeyHatch Posted October 17, 2008 Share Posted October 17, 2008 and the bulldozer has broken ground at 22nd and Nich- woohoo! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zippy Posted October 17, 2008 Share Posted October 17, 2008 I've seen them at Heights and 6th with PIPE! So when will it be finished? tap tap tap.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lwood Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 Down 7th st and Harvard/Columbia were some signs warning of a construction zone.. No construction as of yet.. but at least the signs are there! I would like to hope it's related to the hike/bike trail.. Cheers!It looks like construction has begun at the southwestern corner of Lawrence Park. The ground has been cleared and they have begun setting up the concrete frames. That section begins at Shepherd (just east of the overpass) and heads east. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Porchman Posted October 23, 2008 Share Posted October 23, 2008 Good progress on the trail. Below is a pic of the 1500 block of Nicholson. They already have formwork in place north of West 19th. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmariar Posted October 24, 2008 Share Posted October 24, 2008 Hurrah! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NYC Texan3 Posted October 24, 2008 Share Posted October 24, 2008 Allright!!I have always wondered what the trail will do to cross Buffalo Bayou? Are they really going to reuse the old timber railroad bridge? Hard to believe. This is going to be a great addition to the area. I am looking forward to taking some serious bikerides with the family. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedScare Posted October 24, 2008 Share Posted October 24, 2008 Allright!!I have always wondered what the trail will do to cross Buffalo Bayou? Are they really going to reuse the old timber railroad bridge? Hard to believe. This is going to be a great addition to the area. I am looking forward to taking some serious bikerides with the family.Man, I sure hope so. That will be cool. As long as it is structurally sound, it shouldn't be a problem. And, considering the weight it was designed to support originally, unless it is completely rotted out, it should support a bike roadbed easily. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
20thStDad Posted October 24, 2008 Share Posted October 24, 2008 Do you mean White Oak Bayou? I have tried to walk across that bridge before, but the first few steps totally crunched up the huge railroad tie where I stepped. Not a good sign for being able to use it. I assume you mean the bridge behind the Alexan that sort of heads right at Studemont/I-10 toward downtown? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Porchman Posted October 24, 2008 Share Posted October 24, 2008 Do you mean White Oak Bayou? I have tried to walk across that bridge before, but the first few steps totally crunched up the huge railroad tie where I stepped. Not a good sign for being able to use it. I assume you mean the bridge behind the Alexan that sort of heads right at Studemont/I-10 toward downtown? I agree that it appears unsturdy. It also appears that people have tried to torch parts of it. The underpinnings may be adequate, however. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmariar Posted October 24, 2008 Share Posted October 24, 2008 Very good question - anyone know whether the bike trail we be able to make use of the old railroad bridge?I'm guessing that's the only hope the bridge has of being preserved, being a bit of an attractive nuisance as is. I don't know if there were other fires before it, but I remember a fire on the bridge a year or two ago. I haven't tried to walk on the bridge, but I can see why someone would try - close-up, it looks like it might be structurally sound despite the fire damage.EDIT: Don't know if this can be relied upon, but this August 2006 Chronicle blog post suggests that the existing bridges over both the bayou and Studemont would be used (the fact that both bridges were mentioned I'm reading to mean that the existing bridge over the bayou would not be the Studemont bridge). I think that could have been before the bridge fire, though.Originally, the SP line on Nicholson Street went down the center median with one-way travel lines on each side. According to the project specifics, the proposed street improvement would recreate that setting. In the place of rail, a pedestrian walkway would be placed in the median. The road surface, which is currently only on one side of the old rail line and strewn with potholes, will be rebuilt to provide one 12-foot travel lane, a 5-foot bike lane and seven feet for parking in each direction.The MKT or Katy Trail will begin with a trailhead under the Shepherd and Durham bridges at West 7th. The 12-foot wide trail would connect to the Nicholson trail at Lawrence Park. Crossing Yale Street and Heights Boulevard, the trail will be protected with bikeway crossing safety improvements to include signs, flashing lights and a raised speed table. The trail will then continue on to cross already existing bridges over White Oak Bayou and Studemont and connect with the Houston Heritage Corridor Bayou Trail, which is already being constructed along the bayou from downtown to Houston Street. It also will split off to carry bikers and hikers into the neighborhoods being renovated south of Interstate 10 and into downtown after crossing White Oak Bayou at Crockett Street and following the rail lines to Main Street. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tanith27 Posted October 24, 2008 Share Posted October 24, 2008 The track has quite a bit of growth on it.....anyone know what year the last train crossed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedScare Posted October 24, 2008 Share Posted October 24, 2008 The track has quite a bit of growth on it.....anyone know what year the last train crossed? Probably sometime before the rails were removed. Sorry, T. That post just begged for that response. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zippy Posted October 24, 2008 Share Posted October 24, 2008 So.. what's going to happen to all those driveways which cross this path? Are they going to doze those up too?Re: the bridgesThe one over the bayou i recall being on fire at one point a few years back.. Would be cool if they could use them, but they'd really study it to see if it can be salvaged.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Porchman Posted October 24, 2008 Share Posted October 24, 2008 So.. what's going to happen to all those driveways which cross this path? Are they going to doze those up too?They are apparently leaving them. At the bottom of the construction pic I posted last evening, you can see one of the driveways for one of two new $600k McTorians under construction. (The asphalt is covered with mud so it's a bit hard to make out). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NYC Texan3 Posted October 25, 2008 Share Posted October 25, 2008 Do you mean White Oak Bayou? I have tried to walk across that bridge before, but the first few steps totally crunched up the huge railroad tie where I stepped. Not a good sign for being able to use it. I assume you mean the bridge behind the Alexan that sort of heads right at Studemont/I-10 toward downtown?Right, sorry. Lived in the Heights for the last four years and I still get mixed up when I talk about the bayou. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heights_yankee Posted October 25, 2008 Share Posted October 25, 2008 I've found it very difficult to get interested in this project. However, seeing signs of it beginning and knowing now that it's a reality has cemented giving my husband a bike and trailer for the kiddos (#2 on the way, HAIFers) for Christmas this year! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
20thStDad Posted October 25, 2008 Share Posted October 25, 2008 I've found it very difficult to get interested in this project. However, seeing signs of it beginning and knowing now that it's a reality has cemented giving my husband a bike and trailer for the kiddos (#2 on the way, HAIFers) for Christmas this year!We just got a trailer and kiddie seat for the baby girl, it'll be nice to take her down this when it's finished! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zippy Posted October 27, 2008 Share Posted October 27, 2008 A correction on one of my previous posts.. Apparently the construction equipment on 7th and Heights has to do with the construction down Crockett and on 6th.. oh well.. I'm sure it will reach there eventually. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Porchman Posted November 1, 2008 Share Posted November 1, 2008 Most of the concrete is in north of W 19th They dug up a bunch of railroad ties The forms are in on the 1500 block of Nicholson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverJK Posted November 4, 2008 Share Posted November 4, 2008 lots of work done just south of 6th at Oxford, appears to be all the way to the first bridge over the bayou/ditch. I'll get a better look tomorrow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedScare Posted November 4, 2008 Share Posted November 4, 2008 lots of work done just south of 6th at Oxford, appears to be all the way to the first bridge over the bayou/ditch. I'll get a better look tomorrow. Better yet, get pics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lwood Posted November 4, 2008 Share Posted November 4, 2008 Better yet, get pics. TxDOT representatives were walking Nicholson between 8th and 9th yesterday talking to the home owners. According to them the earth movers are to start working in that area today. It may slip a day or two because of one of my neighbor's complaints about the trail. TxDOT said they may work up to her property, skip her and then let the City work it out. They would then return and fill in that area. Interesting points: Where there is a ditch immediately adjacent to and running parallel to Nicholson, there would be no ballards (short posts). Where the ditch is not adjacent to the street, ballards would be installed. Either the ditch or the ballards would keep cars off of the trail. He said there would be no lighting added except at an underpass or next to the train trestle. I did not ask about landscaping. There was no mention of widening Nicholson. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverJK Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 i saw that they had the framing setup, probably laying the concrete today at oxford. I however forgot that it is now dark when i get home. I'll see if I can't get a good picture this weekend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lwood Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 Down 7th st and Harvard/Columbia were some signs warning of a construction zone.. No construction as of yet.. but at least the signs are there! I would like to hope it's related to the hike/bike trail.. Cheers!I am on Nicholson @ 9th. Two TXDOT representatives walked the path on Monday to let the homeowners know what was about to happen. Tuesday they removed my driveway and sidewalk that run perpendicular to the bike trail. They expect to reinstall the driveway and sidewalk next week at the same time the bike trail is being poured. Excellent communication with the neighborhood.Has anyone heard if any future construction will be allowed to have a driveway crossing the path? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heights_yankee Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 i hope the people who live along the trail have fun with it. the appalachian trail goes through my hometown and parts of the path literally cut through yards. people leave cookies and water out for hikers, or plant flowers along their part of the trail. it's really nice. i just imagine our bike trail with kids selling lemonaide and neighbors sitting on porches waving to passers by... can you tell i'm from a small town? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heightsite Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 i hope the people who live along the trail have fun with it. the appalachian trail goes through my hometown and parts of the path literally cut through yards. people leave cookies and water out for hikers, or plant flowers along their part of the trail. it's really nice. i just imagine our bike trail with kids selling lemonaide and neighbors sitting on porches waving to passers by... can you tell i'm from a small town? Nice thought, but I fear the folks at the homeless encampment along I10 and Studewood just east of the bayou would be the primary beneficiaries of the kind gesture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marksmu Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 So I live on Waverly St, one block over from the Nicholson Hike and Bike trail, and I just have to ask if anyone knows....what is going to happen to all those folks whose garage front to Nicholson? I mean they dont own the land the trail is on, and surely the city is not going to allow them to be backing a car out onto a hiking or biking trail to get back to the street?I can see lawsuits now...I was riding my bike down the city owned trail, and some homeowner just backed out of their driveway and bam.So do these people just lose use of their garages?I came close to buying houses on Nicholson, but did not for this EXACT reason. Does anyone know how they will handle this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicman Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 from porchman's pics here looks like they are already crossing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marksmu Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 I know they are doing it now, but I wonder if they intend to put curbs on it or anything else to put a stop to this? just seems like a bad idea to me...unless you own one of the houses that are affected, in which case your probably livid about it anyways.from porchman's pics here looks like they are already crossing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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