Project Details
| Description | Transportation Highways & Roads Program Management |
| Location | Greater Houston Area, Texas |
| Owner | Texas Department of Transportation |
Grand Parkway Owner’s Representative
RS&H has worked as owner’s representative on several teams that supported the development of various segments of SH 99 (Grand Parkway) for the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). The Grand Parkway is a proposed 180-mile circumferential scenic highway traversing seven counties and encircling the Greater Houston region. The project has been shown on governmental planning documents since the 1960s. Approximately 73 miles of new roadway have been constructed and are open to traffic, and another 52.8 miles are under construction with an anticipated opening date of Spring 2022.
As part of a three-firm joint-venture, RS&H provided procurement engineering services that supported the implementation of planned comprehensive development agreements, including project controls and engineering tasks, such as scheduling, cost estimating, reviewing schematic designs, and evaluating alternative technical concepts (ATC) on various segments of the Grand Parkway.
RS&H served as segment engineer to the Harris County Toll Road Authority and provided schematic design, survey, and right-of-way mapping services to develop Segment G. Segment G was developed as a 13-mile four-lane toll road facility from I-45 to I-69 with semi-directional interchanges at the Hardy Toll Road and fully directional interchanges at I-69 (US 59). The project required 400 feet of right-of-way that included the four-lane toll road with intermittent frontage and appropriate drainage outfalls.
The schematic included complete right-of-way and acquisition documents, geometric alignment, typical sections and cross section development, interchange geometrics, preliminary bridge design concepts, drainage impacts accommodation, traffic engineering analysis, construction sequencing, guide signing and level-of-service development, probable construction cost development, and participation in numerous public meetings. The final design followed the preferred alignment of the environmental impact statement.
A significant challenged included monitoring the land development process to re-align the footprint as needed to avoid newly constructed subdivisions. Since I-69 was under construction during the schematic design phases, RS&H proposed a change order to TxDOT that would leave I-69 at grade and widen the median to accept future center columns. Accept and implemented, this change saved significant construction cost by not raising the newly constructed facility.
For the implementation of Segments F-1, F-2, and G, RS&H worked as a member of the general engineering consultant team that provided preliminary cost estimates, coordinated utility adjustments and right-of-way requirements, assisted with the preparation of the design-build technical provisions, reviewed ATCs for consideration by TxDOT, and assisted in the review of the technical proposals. RS&H also participated in the cost estimate review workshop and proposal review committees. A conditional award was made with minimal change to the contract document and under the engineer’s estimate.
