Katy city council approves major flood mitigation project

By: Claire Goodman - Houston Chronicle

Residents of Katy are one step closer to better flood mitigation after Monday’s city council meeting. At the July 27 meeting, city council unanimously voted to award a $3,777,954 contract to Fused Industries, LLC for the improvement to the drainage channel on Patna Drive in the Riceland Terrace subdivision.

The Patna Drive drainage improvement project will address better rainwater conveyance from Morton Road through Caloro Street.

Notes from a meeting with Ralph Saldana and Stephen Wilcox with Costello Engineering, the firm responsible for the project surveying, state that the project will convert the residential road to a crowned concrete road with a curb and gutter.

The road is currently asphalt with open ditches. The improvements will also include adding larger storm sewers and additional curb inlets in accordance with new 100-year flood guidelines.

The new construction will also lower the street approximately 1.2 feet, funnelling water flow away from residences. Wilcox explained that the goal is to raise the yard elevation above the street and to funnel the water south.

“All of this is to address a low spot which doesn't have outflow in a large rain event,” Saldana explained.

The project is expected to begin in August with a completion date of April or May of 2022.

The funding for the project is allocated from the voter-approved 2018 Flood Control Bond.

claire.goodman@chron.com

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