Work to upgrade road depends on availability of funds

By JUDITH HINDMAN
Chronicle Correspondent

Harris County officials are poised to begin a pair of projects that will improve the flow of both water and traffic along a busy section of Morton Road.

Work will begin first on $2.217 million in drainage improvements on the north side of Morton from South Mayde Creek to Elrod, just west of Mason Road.

On Jan. 23, Harris County Commissioners Court awarded the bid to Lonnie Lischka Co. Inc., that also did the Mason Creek Extension project, which included an 80-acre detention basin.

Fred Garcia, spokesman for Harris County Flood Control District, said rainwater currently flows along an open “glorified roadside ditch” that is a tributary of South Mayde Creek.

“The situation is that it is a very deep, deep roadside channel,” Garcia said. Additionally, the clay soil in that area erodes easily, creating even more problems. He said the existing ditch is about 15 feet deep. …more…