Tommy1955

WARNING! I just read a new report posted today saying due to people still riding in the damaged areas, the County is posting "No Tress passing" signs and now and the constables will be issuing tickets if you're caught riding in the closed areas between Kirkwood and the Beltway.

the sci guy 

Yeah I saw that too from Bike Houston and Energy Corridor news. Kinda annoyed because myself, and tons of other people us that to get to work. i know the weather hasn't fully cooperated but they gotta move faster. Having that whole section closed is hugely inconvenient. Also I couldn't get any clarification on if the dirt/running trail adjacent to the neighborhoods on the north side was still open and just he paved path was closed or if it's the whole thing.

Tommy1955

I don't know. When I'm at Kirkwood where they closed it, it looks like they have the orange fencing going all the way up to the top (high ground). I didn't go to the street and see if you can get across though. I hope they repave the 1st. 1/4 mile or so where you start at Barker Clodine Rd. to the new bridge going to George Bush Park. It's a lot better than it was a week ago but needs to be paved. At least now you can get through though. I'm going out there today. I'll ride from Memorial Mews off Memorial Dr. out to the end of George Bush to Fry Rd. and back. That's about 25-1/2 miles round trip.

The workers for the County told me today that they're going to try and put new pavement (asphalt) down in a couple of days.

the sci guy 

Rode to Kirkwood in THP on Sunday to check out the closure - and indeed there is an orange fence stretching from the bayou all the way up to the residential fence, so I think that confirms the entire section of park is closed.

BUT, as usual, the fence at the paved path was cut/tramped/pushed aside, and there was innumerable amount of people running, walking dogs, and biking through the section (I don't know how far past Kirkwood they were going, because we turned around there). I just don't get people and how they think things don't apply to them.

Tanstaafl

Have they actually started repairs to the paths, or have they just put up more barriers and resumed ignoring it?

the sci guy 

They had begun working on the banks in a few spots yes, but then it kept raining and flooding and finally they decided to close the whole section completely. I think (HOPE) they are working again now that the waters are down the last two weeks.

Tommy1955

It looks like they started repairs again Feb. 6th.. See link.

https://www.hcfcd.org/projects-studi...epair-project/

Tanstaafl

After Sunday's rain I imagine they will be releasing water from the Barker and Addicks Reservoirs. Will they stop working on the paths during this time, or will the release be slow enough they can continue to work?

I found a the following websites showing the level for both Addicks and Barker. Looking at the level at Barker, it appears they are releasing water.

The Addicks page confuses me a bit. The graphs indicate about 2200 acre feet have been released from the reservoir, with about 200 acre-feet remaining. Over the same time, the water level has dropped about 6 ft.

Still, with only 200 acre feet remains, the water level shows about 8 feet. Does the ground slope that steeply on the South end of addicks that the first 200 acre-feet will be deeper than the next 2000 acre-feet?
Barker
https://waterdata.usgs.gov/tx/nwis/uv/?site_no=08072500

Addicks
https://waterdata.usgs.gov/usa/nwis/uv?site_no=08073000

the sci guy 

Check the HCFCD website here: https://www.hcfcd.org/projects-studi...epair-project/ for blogged updates.
They currently are suspended, but they had JUST started again like 5 days ago before this rain.

Like I said before at this rate it's going to be 2018 by the time they finish. My worry is the rain and release of the water just undoes whatever rebuilding work they've accomplished each time. I don't know if that's true, but, I hope not.

I'm getting to the point where I'm going to say **** it and start riding through THP to and from work again because the barrier fence is always down and never repaired, and I see people going through there all the time. I've been a good little legal rider and hopping out at Kirkwood, and riding surface streets through to BWY8, but I'm getting really sick of it.

Tommy1955

It looks like they might finish the Terry Hershey Park repairs in a week or so if the weather holds out! See link.
https://www.hcfcd.org/projects-studi...epair-project/

the sci guy 

FYI the Terry Hershey bank reconstruction is done and the park is 99.999999999% open. There is still a barrier at the top of the steep S-curve hill at Wilcrest, but I think going under the Wilcrest bridge is done & opened. Other than that, the entire park is free of construction.

AND

they've paved new blacktop all the way from BWY8 to Dairy Ashford. It's glorious. It's a little wider too. Not sure if they are going to do the whole stretch of the park, but so far I'm loving it.

Tanstaafl

I road the park yesterday afternoon. The switchback is open. Lots of dirt on the path. I guess rising water from Monday night's rain. Still, it was nice to have the complete path open.

Note: they have closed a 50 ft section of the path to do work in the river bank. There is a path around the closure through the grass, though.

the sci guy 

Yeah they had to replace a large drainage pipe from that neighborhood because the entire thing collapsed and formed a huge sinkhole there. And that neighborhood was flooding every time it rained. They've been fixing it for the last 2-3 weeks. I think they're getting close to being done.
This guy has been taking and posting drone video of the progress and of the flooding before the sinkhole occurred: https://www.youtube.com/user/envgeog...=dd&shelf_id=0

the sci guy 

Well at least I got to ride the wonderful new path at THP before Harvey wipes it out again this weekend.

the sci guy 

Terry Hershey and buffalo Bayou going under highway 6 at the spillway from Barker res and bush park- prob 30 ft above normal

rickyk76

Wow, that's pretty crazy. Hope everyone is safe. We had the tornados last night, and the streets are starting to flood in NW Houston. The retention ponds are overflowing from what I've seen.

the sci guy 

Got evacuated by boat from the house today. We and the pets are safe. Left everything behind obviously but a change of clothes and pet food.

green123

Sorry to hear, but glad you're family is safe

Tommy1955

OMG, I don't even see the spillway!! I want to see what it looks like at the pavilion off Memorial and at Memorial Mews parking area. I'm in Spring Branch and don't know if I can even get there yet. Houston is so much underwater everywhere.

the sci guy 

You can't. You won't be able to for a while. all the bayous and creeks are out of their banks and r over the roads. Memorial mews lot and THP gazebo lot across the street are under water by a lot.

memebag

Sorry to hear that, Sci Guy. I hope the damage isn't too bad.

Luckily my part of Westbury didn't get water up into the houses.

I really need a bike ride. My muscles have atrophied from sitting in the house for 4 days.

the sci guy 

Got pics from a friend doing boat rescues and as of yesterday water was prob 3+ ft but still rising.
I'll post a big update in the Harvey thread in Foo shortly.

the sci guy 

All my bikes are also in the garage and probably dying a sad slow water death.
Seriously bummed.

jtolive

Bummer. Hopefully a new chain, some grease and new bearings will fix you up. Don't be afraid of asking for help - Texans are world class when it comes to helping each other. This has been quite the event.

Tommy1955

For what it's worth, White Oak Bayou bike path looked real good yesterday when I drove to 6-10 at TC Jester. I'll probably have to start riding there for a while. Mostly all concrete paths there.