Officials say Pike Road project nearing completion; businesses cite access and reimbursement concerns

Stafford city staff updated the City Council on the Pike Road Improvements Project on April 2, saying substantial work is complete and the road should re-open within about a week and a half.

City staff and the project contractor recounted delays caused by unrecorded utility conflicts, including three unidentified fiber-optic cables, a shallow water line belonging to WCID No. 2 that had to be moved and a leaning power pole that required a CenterPoint brace. Those issues added time and cost to construction, staff said. The contractor has poured the final concrete and needs to finish curbs, striping and cleanup.

Councilmembers and business owners, including a representative cited in the packet from Texas Leaguer Brewing Company, expressed frustration about access during construction. City staff said they attempted to maintain one-way access to businesses during construction and distributed flyers and notices to property owners; they acknowledged that the brewery had a particularly difficult experience and said they did not receive direct calls requesting special accommodations in time to change the contractor's sequencing.

Council discussion turned to funding and reimbursement. Staff reported Lovett Development contributed roughly $1.6 million for the project and that Fort Bend County had a mobility-grant pot that had been previously discussed as potential reimbursement (county funds were described as about $2.5 million earmarked for Pike Road in prior planning). A councilmember moved that the mayor contact the county commissioner to pursue county participation; the mayor said he would make the call.

Staff and council members encouraged continued outreach to affected businesses, and staff said they would work with property owners or the water district if tap or tie-in needs arise now that the road will be completed.