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Friendswood engineering update: Black Hawk work resumes, waterline and parkway projects move forward
Summary
City engineering reported progress on Black Hawk Boulevard Phase 2B, a 24-inch Clear Creek waterline extension, a replacement ground-storage tank at Water Surface Plant No. 1, and regional projects coordinated with TxDOT and H-GAC. Council approved a tender-release agreement to allow a new contractor to finish Black Hawk work.
Friendswood Director of Engineering Hill Arias told the council Aug. 4 that crews will restart work to complete Black Hawk Boulevard Phase 2B after the city resolved outstanding insurance/contract issues and secured a replacement contractor.
Arias said the city has reached a resolution with Liberty Mutual and expects an emergency contractor to mobilize within “the next week or two,” and that the contractor estimates it can complete the scope in “8 weeks, closer to 6 weeks if he has some good weather cooperating.” The council later approved a tender‑release and substitution agreement with Liberty Mutual Insurance Company and Westbrook Contractors LLC so the replacement contractor can proceed.
Nut graf: The engineering update covered multiple infrastructure projects that tie into city water capacity and regional transportation planning, from local road reconstruction to federally funded corridor improvements, and set expected timeframes for near-term work.
Other project highlights - Black Hawk Boulevard: Phase 2B (west half completion) is scheduled to resume immediately and could be finished in roughly six to eight weeks if weather allows. Phase 2C (final east portion) remains planned for advertisement after Phase 2B is complete and is likely to finish in 2027; staff said 2C cannot be advertised until 2B is physically complete and as-built drawings are available. - Clear Creek 24-inch waterline: Crew work is progressing from the activity center area toward the creek and will cross under Clear Creek before tying into the Black Hawk system; staff said paving restoration will follow pipe installation. - Water Surface Plant No. 1 tank replacement: A ground-storage tank that failed structural inspection will be replaced; the site also required moving an automated metering infrastructure tower before tank construction can proceed. - Active transportation and Parkway Corridor work: The city’s active transportation plan has drawn 68 residents to date and will include steering-committee and stakeholder meetings; Parkway corridor engineering and a TxDOT‑funded package of intersection improvements remain in progress through H-GAC and TxDOT. Arias said the city has about $2.6 million in TxDOT/H‑GAC projects with no local match, but noted delivery depends on state timelines and environmental clearances.
Council members raised safety and traffic‑flow concerns at construction zones. One councilor asked staff to explore temporary speed‑reduction measures through work zones; staff said they will investigate possible options.
Actions Council authorized a tender‑release and substitution agreement to allow Westbrook Contractors to take over the Black Hawk repackaged Phase 2B work following Liberty Mutual’s contract exit. Staff said this will enable the city to finish the west-half work and then advertise Phase 2C.
