JLWM8609 Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 (edited) I see that the COH has a new project, realigning N. MacGregor through Hermann Park between Almeda and the site of the new Cambridge St. bridge over the bayou. As it is now, N. MacGregor travels under a canopy of trees which arch over the roadway, providing a beautiful parkwaylike effect. From the land clearing I've seen, the current N. MacGregor will be dumped for an alignment that will make N. MacGregor run side by side with S. MacGregor without a big land buffer in the middle like it has now, turning the roadway into a bland, run of the mill arterial with a curb divider that can be found anyplace around the area instead of the greenspace that was originally between the two sides, and of course, no canopy of old tree limbs over the roadway. What benefit is there to relocating N.MacGregor? It serves a fine purpose in its current location IMO. Edited January 23, 2009 by JLWM8609 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 Maybe they'll add a bicycle path. Its a real pain-in-the-ass to bike-commute down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cottonmather0 Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 I drove down there yesterday and saw what was going on. Surely they're not going to eliminate the canopy of trees? That would be absolutely horrible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarahiki Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 I am distressed to hear this, since that is a regular route for me. A bike path would be great but I'm not optimistic. Thanks for letting us know... and everyone keep posting if you learn anything new about this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexasVines Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 (edited) they should do away with that stretch of road entirely and hook it into almeda and then move/widen/beautify the bayou there and put in some flood control lakes in it...the golf course would be shifted over and more room for the zoo and park like this the white is one alignment alameda would be made a wider parkway and if the red flyovers were desired in addition to the white parts they would be of course designed by Santiago Calatrava obama is in office now so there is plenty of money for anything Edited January 24, 2009 by TexasVines Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
houstonranger Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 I am distressed to hear this, since that is a regular route for me. A bike path would be great but I'm not optimistic. Thanks for letting us know... and everyone keep posting if you learn anything new about this.I live near there, and was a little perplexed when I heard the news of what they were doing here.....I drive and walk this area all the time and I think the road and paths are awesome as is.... I kind of assumed that the "powers that be" knew what they were doing with these "improvements" but now i read this and seen it for my own eyes I have a sinking feeling...Can anyone say what is the point about this, apart from ruining 2 great roads (North and South McG), that are so cool to drive currently?Oh yeah, and I'm not talking about the 20 feet of new green space that will be generated...next to the golf course..Seriously, just when I think I made the right move to move to Houston I see stuff like this happening right on my doorstep? This is costing millions of $$ to make things worse? What is the point??? I think its costing $5 million... to hack me off. Awesome.I'd be more than happy to stand corrected here...Anyone?????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan the Man Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 This is costing millions of $$ to make things worse? What is the point???My sentiments exactly. I really enjoy driving on that stretch of roadway. Perhaps this is part of the Brays Bayou drainage project? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
houstonranger Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 (edited) Can someone please someone enlighten me why this is going to better than what was there??????I'll even forget about the $5,000,0000 that its costing !!!!!!!So ok, simple question - Why are we cutting down hundreds of trees to move 2 roads that were awesome as they were and turn it into one sterile roadway we see everywhere??? Edited January 24, 2009 by houstonranger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 My sentiments exactly. I really enjoy driving on that stretch of roadway. Perhaps this is part of the Brays Bayou drainage project?Strong possibility. There is a lot of heavy equipment working by a bridge on Holcombe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheNiche Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 I see that the COH has a new project, realigning N. MacGregor through Hermann Park between Almeda and the site of the new Cambridge St. bridge over the bayou. As it is now, N. MacGregor travels under a canopy of trees which arch over the roadway, providing a beautiful parkwaylike effect. From the land clearing I've seen, the current N. MacGregor will be dumped for an alignment that will make N. MacGregor run side by side with S. MacGregor without a big land buffer in the middle like it has now, turning the roadway into a bland, run of the mill arterial with a curb divider that can be found anyplace around the area instead of the greenspace that was originally between the two sides, and of course, no canopy of old tree limbs over the roadway. What benefit is there to relocating N.MacGregor? It serves a fine purpose in its current location IMO.I knew about the bridge over to Cambridge, but this is the first I've heard of some kind of realignment. Does anybody have a link to official project information? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLWM8609 Posted January 24, 2009 Author Share Posted January 24, 2009 they should do away with that stretch of road entirely and hook it into almeda and then move/widen/beautify the bayou there and put in some flood control lakes in it...the golf course would be shifted over and more room for the zoo and park Divert all of MacGregor's traffic to Almeda? That would do WONDERS for traffic flow in the already congested area. Not to mention that having flood control basins in the middle of a waterway as opposed to the side(s) of it doesn't really make sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLWM8609 Posted January 24, 2009 Author Share Posted January 24, 2009 I forgot to add, I did google this project after I created this thread, and found some minutes from a May, 2007 Houston City Council Meeting regarding this project. http://www.houstontx.gov/citysec/agendas/2007/20070508.pdfSee pages 10-14.Apparently, the relocation of the N.MacGregor ROW would serve as a mobility and pavement reconstruction project that would maintain current traffic levels return 10 and 1/2 acres of land back to the park (but they don't say how much park land would be displaced by the new alignment). Seems to me that if they wanted to do pavement reconstruction of N. MacGregor, all they would have to do is just mill the old asphalt road surface and put fresh asphalt down instead of clearing land, and putting an all new concrete road bed down in a new location.The minutes also go on to say "approximately 10 acres of formerly inaccessible parkland (plus wilderness areas on the bayou) would be accessible." Of course it was inaccessible, a 3 lane road was going through it, and I don't get the deal about the areas on the bayou being inaccessible, as I recall, the bike trails that run along the banks of the bayou allow access to that land. Now they want to make those 10 acres acccessible by plowing into a bit of previously accessible land. This land they're building the new N. MacGregor on has signs that say something to the effect of "Do Not Mow, Reforestation Area". Seems like those signs were a waste of money as the reforestation area has been destroyed. The COH wasting money is nothing new of course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexasVines Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 Divert all of MacGregor's traffic to Almeda? That would do WONDERS for traffic flow in the already congested area. Not to mention that having flood control basins in the middle of a waterway as opposed to the side(s) of it doesn't really make sense. widen almeda to accept the traffic and put in the red flyovers by Santiago and the basins serve the puropse if it gives water a place to go other than where it is not wanted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
houstonranger Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 yes, as a local resident and tax payer, I'm really confused at what they are trying to achieve with this "re-alignment"Is there any good to this??Please, any opinions welcome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cottonmather0 Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 It would be nice to find a map or something definitive about that's happening. I can read the words but I can't realize visualize it all that well. They do have all of the trees fenced off on both sides of the road, so maybe that's a good thing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLWM8609 Posted January 24, 2009 Author Share Posted January 24, 2009 It would be nice to find a map or something definitive about that's happening. I can read the words but I can't realize visualize it all that well. They do have all of the trees fenced off on both sides of the road, so maybe that's a good thing?I'll try to work on something to post later today to give you a visualization. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLWM8609 Posted January 24, 2009 Author Share Posted January 24, 2009 Ok, here are some photos of the construction area. This first photo is just west of Almeda on N. MacGregor as you enter the park. Notice the orange signs. After you go into the curve, you can see the path that the new N. MacGregor ROW will take. And again. The old ROW with the nice tree limbs providing that beautiful arch. I wonder what will happen to the old road bed, maybe they'll tear up the pavement and turn it into a super wide jogging trail? Looking east along S. MacGregor. Looking west along S. MacGregor. More views along S. MacGregor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
houstonranger Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 hhm, yes, thanks for that, great pics....I drove by it today as well, and while I'm sorry that the roads are going to be right next to each other, on closer inspection maybe it won't be too bad... ( I still liked it the way it was mind you)As you say, I'm real interested in what they put in the existing North McGregor Rd...if they add something there real nice it might be worth losing with the canopy effect etc on N McGregorAlso, wonder how all this will affect traffic flow in and around the new bridge, which from what I can gather is why this North McGregor re-alignment is all happeningAlso wonder if North M is still going to be 3 lanes?S M is only 2.Surely they would not get rid of a lane, esp as it is access to Ben Taub. Still needs to be 3 lanes IMO, which is what it is now. Not quite sure if there is room for 3 lanes in the new alignment...looks like there might be, but tough to tell.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheNiche Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 Also wonder if North M is still going to be 3 lanes?S M is only 2.Surely they would not get rid of a lane, esp as it is access to Ben Taub. Still needs to be 3 lanes IMO, which is what it is now. Not quite sure if there is room for 3 lanes in the new alignment...looks like there might be, but tough to tell....I wouldn't be surprised if N. Macgregor gets reconstructed as 3 lanes, then they shift S. Macgregor to the new N. Macgregor temporarily while they tear up and reconstruct old S. Macgregor, also possibly with more lanes. The median could be made pretty thin. It isn't like there are any crossovers or turns in that stretch after all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLWM8609 Posted January 25, 2009 Author Share Posted January 25, 2009 It isn't like there are any crossovers or turns in that stretch after all.In the current configuration, there are about three crossovers between N and S MacGregor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
houstonranger Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 "while they tear up and reconstruct old S. MacGregor"who said anything about doing this???This has nothing to do with re-alignment of N Mac? Why would they "tear up" S Mac? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoolBuddy06 Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 In the current configuration, there are about three crossovers between N and S MacGregor.Actually two. And I think one is enough. The only times I've seen them used is when there's a wreck and people need to turn around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheNiche Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 "while they tear up and reconstruct old S. MacGregor"who said anything about doing this???This has nothing to do with re-alignment of N Mac? Why would they "tear up" S Mac?Nobody did, but if it were going to happen at any point in the foreseeable future, now would be the time. That way we don't have to endure construction at some future date that would shut down half of the capacity of a major ambulance route. It just makes sense.Also, up until just now we didn't really know anything about this realignment. I still haven't seen any government documents providing specifics, so we're left to make educated guesses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MetroMogul Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 Why? Why are they doing this? This city is determined to obliterate anything with even a hint of beauty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheNiche Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 Why? Why are they doing this? This city is determined to obliterate anything with even a hint of beauty. Yes, and they're even going to line the new uglified route with random big screen TVs. We're fighting for the hearts and minds of medical tourists from Dallas, don't you know? No, really I'll bet that this is just something that Texas Medical Center, Inc. asked for; they always get what they want and have made it explicitly clear in the past that aesthetics won't get in the way of their mission. There's probably some element of traffic and congestion management going on that isn't readily apparent right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaTrain Posted January 26, 2009 Share Posted January 26, 2009 I knew they were reconfiguring the MacGregor Way/North MacGregor Drive intersection toaccomodate the Cambridge-over-the-Brays Ext but I didn't know North MacGregor was going to be rerouted to match the alighment with South MacGregor. I thought the intersection reconstruction was it, and just it? Another reason why Houston stays losing when it comes to greenery from your cars. They should have left it alone; is it that big of a deal to reroute something to appease Cambridge access? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted January 26, 2009 Share Posted January 26, 2009 Why? Why are they doing this? This city is determined to obliterate anything with even a hint of beauty.I'm sure it's Metro's fault. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted January 26, 2009 Share Posted January 26, 2009 This project is being done to improve traffic flow, but also, as someone posted earlier but failed to comprehend... the new roadway alignment will return approximately 10 acres of land to full park use, rather than being isolated and essentially inaccessible and unusable between 2 3-lane roadways. This is a NET 10- acres gain for the park and I believe the realignment is part of the park's master plan. (And I don't see any reason why the new alignment won't also be a very attractive drive.)Now, please, everyone, climb back in off your ledges and take a deep breath. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted January 26, 2009 Share Posted January 26, 2009 This project is being done to improve traffic flow, but also, as someone posted earlier but failed to comprehend... the new roadway alignment will return approximately 10 acres of land to full park use, rather than being isolated and essentially inaccessible and unusable between 2 3-lane roadways. This is a NET 10- acres gain for the park and I believe the realignment is part of the park's master plan. (And I don't see any reason why the new alignment won't also be a very attractive drive.)Now, please, everyone, climb back in off your ledges and take a deep breath.Not really clear of what use the new 10 acres could be, though. That's the golf course area, and the course is already laid out. Now if that becomes a bike/pedestrian trail, that's something I can get behind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plumber2 Posted January 26, 2009 Share Posted January 26, 2009 This project was presented to the Texas Medical Center at one of their member institution meetings that I happened to attend over a year ago. The 10 plus acres of land will be used not only as a buffer zone for the golf course but will become a walking/hiking path similar to the one on the northeast side of the golf course. The canopy of trees will remain. These trees date back to the original park loop road that circled around the golf course and connected up with another park road in front of the present garden center. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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