Montrose Blvd Construction Begins March/April 2025
Montrose Boulevard is being fully reconstructed from Allen Parkway to W Clay Street as a 4-lane concrete roadway with a median, sidewalks, trees, signals, a pedestrian bridge, etc. Updates on this website will be given weekly and kept up to date.
What to expect during construction
- Minimum one lane of traffic in each direction
- Driveway access will be maintained at all times
- Expect delays, please plan accordingly
- Construction will take approx. one year
- Uniformed police officers will be present as needed
Construction Phasing
Phase I
Allen Parkway to
W Dallas Street
Phase II
W Dallas Street to
W Clay Street
Construction Phasing Example
Project Limits
Allen Parkway to
W Clay Street
Construction Cost
$17.9M
Contractor
MC2 Civil, LLC
Timeline
Begin March/April 2025
End 2nd Quarter of 2026
About The Improvement Project
Project Goals
- Adhere to the City’s guiding mobility and safety principles: Enhancing pedestrian with new sidewalks, crosswalks, and better lighting to ensure Montrose Boulevard is a welcoming corridor for all.
- Improve drainage infrastructure: Upgrading stormwater infrastructure to reduce flooding, protect properties, and keep our streets accessible during heavy rain.
- Improve roadway surfaces: Resurfacing and repairing the roadway for smoother travel, better accessibility, and a more durable surface to serve the community for years to come.
- Preserve as many trees as possible and add new ones:Preserving the mature trees that define Montrose Boulevard’s charm by incorporating thoughtful design and construction practices that protect their roots and health. In addition, new trees will also be added along Montrose Blvd between Allen Parkway to West Clay Street.
Proposed Project Improvements
Proposed Typical Roadway Sections
Allen Parkway to W Dallas Street
Pedestrian Safety
The Montrose Project prioritizes pedestrian safety as a key component of its design, spanning from Allen Parkway to West Clay Street. Sidewalk pedestrian safety measures include an enlarged safety buffer to City of Houston standards to bring the sidewalk further away from the street; the safety buffer will include existing and proposed trees to enhance safety and shade for pedestrians. Intersection pedestrian safety measures include upgraded pedestrian crossings and ramps with signals, no right-turn on red signs, high-visibility crosswalks, and improved intersection accessibility to meet ADA and City of Houston standards. Installation of a HAWK (High-Intensity Activated Crosswalk) signal at the W Clay Street intersection near Wharton Elementary provides a safer pedestrian crossing. The project introduces City-owned Davit double luminaire streetlights along the corridor, enhancing lighting for the sidewalk, improving safety and security. Also, a significant number of trees are being added to provide more shade for pedestrians traversing the corridor. The MBIP seeks to transform Montrose Boulevard into a safer, more walkable corridor for all users.
The sidewalk enhancements in the Montrose Project aim to improve pedestrian accessibility and safety while maintaining tree preservation goals. From Allen Parkway to W Dallas Street, the east side of Montrose Blvd will feature an 8-foot-wide sidewalk, providing ample space for pedestrians including those with mobility challenges; the west side will maintain its existing landscape buffer and preserve mature trees. Between W Dallas Street to W Clay Street, the esat side will have 6-foot-wide sidewalks. Similarly, the west side will also feature 6-foot-wide sidewalks. The sidewalks will be narrowed down to either 4- or 5-ft around the existing trees to avoid impacting them.
In collaboration with Downtown TIRZ 3, a pedestrian bridge is being installed over Allen Parkway to safely connect pedestrians from Montrose to Buffalo Bayou Park.
Inline Detention System
The inline detention system proposed for the Montrose Boulevard Improvement Project (MBIP) Segment 1 is a critical component of the project’s drainage enhancement strategy, designed to mitigate flooding along the corridor from Allen Parkway to West Clay Street. This system replaces the outdated and undersized stormwater infrastructure—currently consisting of 48-inch and 54-inch pipes—with a modern, high-capacity solution to better manage stormwater runoff in this flood-prone area of Houston.
The core of the inline detention system features a network of large, 10-foot by 10-foot reinforced concrete box culverts integrated directly into the stormwater conveyance path beneath Montrose Boulevard. The system is engineered to accommodate a two-year rainfall event and providing a detention capacity of roughly five acre-feet (approximately 1.6 million gallons). This capacity helps slow the flow of stormwater, reducing peak runoff rates and alleviating pressure on downstream infrastructure, including the Buffalo Bayou watershed, where Montrose Boulevard serves as a primary drainage spine.
Key elements of the inline detention system include:
- Upgraded Conveyance: The 10×10-foot box culverts significantly increase the hydraulic capacity compared to the existing pipes, allowing for faster and more efficient movement of stormwater during heavy rain events.
- Detention Functionality: The storm sewers will temporarily detain water, releasing it at a controlled rate to prevent overwhelming downstream systems. This detention reduces flash flooding risks in the surrounding area.
- Integration with Roadway Improvements: The system is installed beneath the reconstructed roadway, aligning with the project’s goals of resurfacing and enhancing Montrose Boulevard. This integration minimizes surface disruption while addressing drainage needs.
- Compliance with Standards: The design adheres to City of Houston requirements, ensuring compatibility with local stormwater management regulations and resilience against updated rainfall data.
The inline detention system supports the broader MBIP Segment 1 objectives by enhancing drainage performance without sacrificing the corridor’s aesthetic or functional character. By situating storage underground, it preserves surface space for the project’s safety enhancements—like improved sidewalks and protects existing trees where possible, addressing community concerns about tree preservation. This approach reflects a balance between infrastructure necessity and Montrose’s urban landscape, ensuring the boulevard remains a vibrant, safe, and flood-resilient artery for the community.
For detailed schematics or further technical specifics, residents are encouraged to refer to the final design plans submitted by Montrose TIRZ 27 to the City of Houston, available at this link: https://montrosehtx.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Montrose-BLVD-2025-01-09-Roadway-Schematic.pdf
Roadway Improvements
The roadway portion of the Montrose Project ensures that Montrose Boulevard maintains its existing general-purpose lane width and number, featuring four 12-foot lanes – two in each direction – to preserve reliable service for emergency responders and accommodate current and projected 2040 traffic demands. The existing asphalt and concrete pavement is being upgraded to an 11-inch concrete pavement, designed to last at least 50 years. The corridor will also be upgraded to support METRO BOOST 56, a high-frequency bus service, enhancing public transit options and connectivity within the neighborhood. Key roadway enhancements include an upgraded traffic signal at W Dallas Street to improve traffic flow and safety and the HAWK signal at W Clay Street. The project introduces City-owned Davit double luminaire streetlights along the corridor, enhancing lighting for the BOOST corridor and sidewalks, improving safety and security, and increasing visibility and road safety for all users, particularly in an area identified as part of Houston’s High Injury Network.
Tree Conservation and Improvements
The tree planting will include Live Oaks to complement the existing live oaks that are being preserved along the roadway and adding Lanana Cypress trees north of W Dallas Street, which arose out of community engagement and serves as an aesthetic transition to Buffalo Bayou Park.
The tree maintenance will include regular watering and tree replacements for 4 years after the trees have initially been planted. Trees can play a crucial role in mitigating urban heat island effects. By providing shade and reducing surface temperatures, trees help counteract the heat trapped by concrete and asphalt in this densely built area. Through evapotranspiration, they release water vapor, cooling the surrounding air naturally. Planting native species like live oaks along Montrose Boulevard could lower ambient temperatures, improve air quality, and enhance the neighborhood’s charm, making it more comfortable for residents during Houston’s sweltering summers.
Proposed Drainage Improvements
- 10-ft x 10-ft storm sewers
- 5 ac-ft of detention
- Consistent with regional solution
*Example of 10-ft x 10-ft storm sewer.
Latest Construction Info
Updated Weekly
Construction begins 4/3. One Northbound lane will be closed between W Dallas and Allen Parkway. Expect Delays.