Commissioners approve going to bid on Chambers Parkway reconstruction; county pairs road work with new soccer complex and drainage detention

Chambers County commissioners on the record approved sending Phase 1 of the Chambers Parkway reconstruction out for bid and heard presentations on a connected drainage and recreation project that county engineers say will reduce flooding in nearby neighborhoods.

The project covers about 4,200 linear feet of Chambers Parkway from State Highway 146 east toward Needlepoint Road in two phases, with Phase 1 shown in project materials as the immediate priority. County staff and the project team said the project will rebuild the road as a four‑lane divided roadway with a raised median, side ditches, a sidewalk on the south side and a planned tie into a county soccer complex on adjacent county property. Commissioners voted in favor of the bid motion; the motion was made by Commissioner Dagley and carried by the court without recorded roll‑call tallies.

County engineers and design consultants emphasized drainage as a primary driver for the reconstruction. Daniel McCullough with TNP explained the plan will tie into an existing Kilgore outfall channel the county already owns, add detention to hold water that now flows into Pine Meadows neighborhood and then outfall into the Kilgore channel. McCullough and other presenters showed photos of flooding that occurred last spring and said the roadway reconstruction and added detention are intended to redirect flow away from homes.

Tom Brother of T and P and Jeff Choice of BRW Architects described the adjacent soccer complex and community center that will use material generated by the detention/channel work to raise and grade fields and reduce earthmoving costs. The planned recreation site includes six soccer fields, a small restroom/concession building and a community center. Presenters said the detention facility will occupy county property and some adjacent land donated by Goose Creek Independent School District; commissioners and staff said an easement with Goose Creek ISD was negotiated to permit the drainage work across school property.

Project timing provided in the presentation sets a March return to the court for bid approval on the soccer complex and an anticipated construction start in June. Presenters said Phase 2 of the roadway — extending to Needlepoint Road — will be brought forward later in the year. Staff noted additional right of way purchases and utility coordination remain tasks before construction.

Commissioners asked about parking, maintenance and schedule coordination; presenters said the soccer complex will include parking sufficient for tournaments and that synchronizing the roadway, channel and recreation work will save costs by reusing excavated material. The project team said they will return with a more defined completion schedule when the courts consider bids in March.

The court’s approval authorizes staff to proceed with the bidding process for Chambers Parkway Phase 1 and related contract procurement steps; final construction awards and detailed schedules will return to the commissioners for formal approval.

Ending: The court directed staff to prepare bid documents and to return with cost estimates and a recommended schedule; commissioners also asked staff to continue coordinating required easements and utility relocations prior to advertising the work.