Parkway will get northbound tunnel

Construction to provide alternative for pedestrians trying to cross busy roads

A pedestrian tunnel will be constructed at the northbound lanes of West Lake Houston Parkway, between Appalachian Trail and Sycamore Springs Drive.

The tunnel is similar to other pedestrian tunnels in Kingwood, which run perpendicular to intersections at major thoroughfares, said Stan Sarman, chairman of the Lake Houston Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone.

“A lot of times these pedestrian crossings are also to connect different villages together, and also schools,” Sarman said.

“This just allows pedestrians to cross major thoroughfares without having to worry about the traffic, particularly the kids. It’s just part of the master plan that (was) developed years ago for Kingwood.”

“These are at mid-block crossing and are not at major street intersections,” he said. “There are several of these tunnels throughout Kingwood that were put in by the developer years ago.”

If sidewalks are present at a street intersection, then there is likely not a pedestrian tunnel nearby, he added.

There are about 10 of these pedestrian tunnels throughout

the Kingwood community, many of which are used by school-age children who use the foot trails while walking to nearby schools, which can provide a safer alternative to trying to cross a busy street.

The TIRZ approved this addition to a contract with the Friendswood Development Co. on April 14.

The tunnel will cost $900,000 to build and is part of the redesign and construction of the northbound lanes of West Lake Houston.

Lauren Laake, chief of staff for Councilman Dave Martin, said the project was of significant interest to Martin, who had worked during the last year with members of the Mills Branch Homeowner’s Association and many community members to persuade Friendswood Development Co. to construct the it.

“The installation of this tunnel is extremely important to Council Member Martin because twin pedestrian tunnels can be found throughout the Kingwood community,” Laake said.

Last year, Friendswood Development built a pedestrian tunnel beneath southbound lanes at West Lake Houston Parkway at a cost of about $400,000.

It was part of the original design plan begun in late 2014. Traffic changes

In order for the tunnel under the northbound lanes to be built, all traffic will have to be diverted to the newly constructed southbound lanes of West Lake Houston Parkway, Sarman said.

Sarman said the northbound tunnel will cost more because concrete will have to be torn out and walls added before the roadway can be built.

Construction of the northbound pedestrian tunnel is expected to begin in the next 60 days and is expected to be completed by the start of the 2016-17 school year.