Brays Bayou Master Plan

[ihop]

Sounds like an extension of Selma or Cecil St, I've seen the work, but I can't remember which one it is. Those two streets run parallel to each other and to Fannin south of the bayou, AND, for pop culture references, both streets ironically have the same names of two "Simpsons" characters, not that anyone except for me would notice.

Given that Bertner turns into Cecil, without looking at things that would seem like the road they'd build through. Also some of the posted building permits for one of the projects on the UT-HSCH road that runs parallel to Fannin on the south side of OST used Bertner street addresses for the site.

But when you look at the satellite shots of the area, Selma would directly connect with that road and it look like it'd be much easier to get right of way for Selma than it would Cecil. At the moment they use Selma and the adjoining lots for parking for much of the construction going on in the med center.

[VelvetJ]

See post #407

On a side note, I wish Houston would have a contest for "Best New Designed Bridge". New topic!

Saw this bridge this weekend and had planned to mention it here. Up to this point it really does look like they are not cutting any corners in building it, which of course is a good thing in my eyes. Has anyone seen the final design?

[plumber2]

UT is funding the Bertner St. South Extension. Bertner will cross S. Braeswood at Cecil St. and continue south until about St. Agnes St. From that point it will vear east around the new patient family housing apartments and cross OST approximately were Selma St. would cross if it had extended that far.

[rsb320]

Saw this bridge this weekend and had planned to mention it here. Up to this point it really does look like they are not cutting any corners in building it, which of course is a good thing in my eyes. Has anyone seen the final design?

Not to hijack the Mosaic site for a bridge... Here's something I found on the bridge. Apparently, it will also have bike lanes.

http://www.bikehouston.org/files/cambridgebiketrails.pdf

[ricco67]

Not to hijack the Mosaic site for a bridge... Here's something I found on the bridge. Apparently, it will also have bike lanes.

http://www.bikehouston.org/files/cambridgebiketrails.pdf

I still have problems picturing it. I'll by by that area on the weekend, so that might help. It looks like it is for motorized traffic, I assume this is the case?

[rsb320]

I still have problems picturing it. I'll by by that area on the weekend, so that might help. It looks like it is for motorized traffic, I assume this is the case?

Yes, my understanding is that it will be just another bridge across the bayou. Well, not just another one. This one is somehow supposed to be fancy or something.

I think I'll ride by this weekend too.

FYI - Cambridge Bridge site is here http://www.houstonarchitecture.info/haif/i...showtopic=11403

[ricco67]

Yes, my understanding is that it will be just another bridge across the bayou. Well, not just another one. This one is somehow supposed to be fancy or something.

I think I'll ride by this weekend too.

FYI - Cambridge Bridge site is here http://www.houstonarchitecture.info/haif/i...showtopic=11403

Cool. I'll try not to run you over.

Umm...Mods?

[JLWM8609]

There's also a new hike and bike bridge over the Brays right next to the Ardmore St. bridge. It runs when the old Columbia Tap RR bridge was. They placed the bridge deck on top of the columns just a few days ago.

[Vertigo58]

This new bridge should have been created decades ago. That intersection becomes jammed during peak hours. Now traffic can head forward instead of being forced to turn left or right onto Holcombe, etc.

This specific intersection becomes quite dark at night. Check it out. However, the good part is this should all be a thing of the past (me hopes). Hopefully all of that unkept brush will be replaced with color ie; Oleander, azaleas, etc.

Isn't everyone just dying to see what the final appearance of this bridge will be?

[JLWM8609]

I caught a peek at the span structure the other day. It's a traditional bridge deck, from the look of the architecture and the little engravings on the pillars, it looks like TxDOT might give the bridge the old "Gulf Coast Colors" combo. Though I could be wrong. This is the color scheme I'm talking about.

This new bridge should have been created decades ago. That intersection becomes jammed during peak hours. Now traffic can head forward instead of being forced to turn left or right onto Holcombe, etc.

This specific intersection becomes quite dark at night. Check it out. However, the good part is this should all be a thing of the past (me hopes). Hopefully all of that unkept brush will be replaced with color ie; Oleander, azaleas, etc.

Isn't everyone just dying to see what the final appearance of this bridge will be?

Edited July 23, 2008 by JLWM8609

[Vertigo58]

Take a slow drive East on Holcombe as you pass Almeda and start approaching this bridge wait until you see how grand the entry looks!

There are 4 very tall granite obelisks rising in to the very heavens! Look similar to this one below:

Would be neat if they put this guy right in the middle! Cool.

[lockmat]

update: link

[JLWM8609]

Sunday, I passed by and saw a truck from the Aztec company parked on the bridge setting up a tent. I guess there was some ceremony for the completion of the bridge. Today, I passed by and noticed some workers doing final touches to the bridge. The road closed signs were still up. I suspect it will be open soon. I haven't seen any traffic lights put up at the MacGregor side of the bridge. There's one traffic light there, but it's not really positioned to be intended for bridge traffic as it's just a temporary setup for the realignment of MacGregor. I suspect it'll be open later this week or sometime next week.

[ihop]

Sunday, I passed by and saw a truck from the Aztec company parked on the bridge setting up a tent. I guess there was some ceremony for the completion of the bridge. Today, I passed by and noticed some workers doing final touches to the bridge. The road closed signs were still up. I suspect it will be open soon. I haven't seen any traffic lights put up at the MacGregor side of the bridge. There's one traffic light there, but it's not really positioned to be intended for bridge traffic as it's just a temporary setup for the realignment of MacGregor. I suspect it'll be open later this week or sometime next week.

They had a few signs up for "Bridge Event Parking" on Monday, at the bridge and on Harvin Blvd. I thought there was supposed to be some sort of event on Monday, but I couldn't find any listing about it from the city, and there were heavy thunderstorms all day Monday. Apparently there was an event Tuesday? But the bridge won't be open until "fall" which isn't too helpful.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nb/bellaire/news/6631528.html

Funny, I remember the grand opening of the Westpark Tollway being rained out.

[sevfiv]

Yay! The bayou was the one thing blocking my direct route in. I wonder if they're ever going to rename that tiny stretch of Cambridge from 610 to Naomi street, too? (It is actually Holt St. for those two blocks).

[JamesL]

Bucket trucks on site today, possibly working on the TMC side traffic lights. That intersection is a mess, though, with the Braeswood construction.

[arisegundo]

Any pics? I've been meaning to take a field trip to the area but have not had time.

[JamesL]

The bridge has been open to traffic since last week, though not all turn movements are allowed on the TMC side. Pedestrian trails haven't been connected, but they may be waiting for whatever Project Brays work is imminent before doing that.

[sevfiv]

Tried it today - it was great!

[LTAWACS]

What is the location of this bridge?

Thanks for the pic sevfiv.

[Porchman]

What is the location of this bridge?

[sevfiv]

It's where Cambridge now connects to Outer Belt/Golf Course/MacGregor.

map

edit - yeah, what Porchman posted

Edited October 15, 2009 by sevfiv

[Original Timmy Chan's]

I used the bridge this morning too!

I regularly use Cambridge to get to the Krogers on OST/Cambridge...I've never before used Cambridge between OST and Holcombe. That's a nice piece of road. It's night and day compared to Cambridge between the South Loop and OST (the stretch I usually drive).

I think there are some serious sinkhole issues happening on Cambridge south of OST. It's a hell of a roller coaster ride, with lots of "birdbaths" in the street holding water for many days after a rain. I hope the City replaces Cambridge before it swallows up a car!

[JLWM8609]

I used the bridge this morning too!

I regularly use Cambridge to get to the Krogers on OST/Cambridge...I've never before used Cambridge between OST and Holcombe. That's a nice piece of road. It's night and day compared to Cambridge between the South Loop and OST (the stretch I usually drive).

I think there are some serious sinkhole issues happening on Cambridge south of OST. It's a hell of a roller coaster ride, with lots of "birdbaths" in the street holding water for many days after a rain. I hope the City replaces Cambridge before it swallows up a car!

Don't hold your breath. They'll probably cheap out and do a standard asphalt overlay like TxDOT did to OST to hide the poor condition of the concrete.

[LTAWACS]

I will have to test drive this bridge soon. Thanks for the map!

[sevfiv]

Yeah - major UGH to Cambridge between Holly Hall and OST. Lots of rolling hills - if you ride a dropped car (or hell, probably a Civic, too), be prepared to lose your underthings...!

[JLWM8609]

I drove by the new bridge at night for the first time tonight. It's got colored lights on it to enhance it, but they leave something to be desired. There's a few blue dotlike lights on those columns at each end of the bridge and some lights to light up the trails going underneath.

[VelvetJ]

I really like this bridge, however I personally would have liked to see the columns painted a nice color. Maybe a pretty green or brown.

[house567]

Will the next bridge also have decorative columns? Will they be bigger or strangely different? Will there be a theme for all bridges in Houston? What do the columns do? As costly as the non-functional columns are; I would hope that responsible city planners and designers use those funds for completion of bicycle lanes, street repair, or toward greater human locomotion instead of auto locomotion. Alaska has the "Bridge to Nowhere." Wainerdi Bridge has the "Sidewalks to Nowhere."

[sevfiv]

I saw the new Cambridge sign at Fannin - glad it is more consistent now (rather than having S MacGregor and "Outer Belt" as Google likes to label it):