Third Pump Station Construction – Update July 22, 2021

Third Pump Station Construction

The first pump was delivered to the project this week and is installed inside the new pump station.  The District approved a change order with the construction contractor to expedite the installation of the first pump and motor.  Based on the current schedule, the first pump will be operational at the beginning of September.  As soon as it is operational, this single pump will almost double the current pump capacity in Ditch A.  Three additional pumps will be delivered to the project in early August, but delivery of the final three pumps will not be complete until the end of September.  After the final pumps arrives, it will still take 6-7 weeks to complete installation in November.

FBCLID 2 appreciates your patience as the District works to complete this critical flood control project.  Additional details are available at: www.fbclid2.com/third-pump-station-construction/. Please contact FBCLID 2 directly with any questions or concerns: www.fbclid2.com/contact.

Notice: Weekend Work on Sunday, July 27

Construction of Drainage and Levee Improvements

The following is an update on the FBCLID 2 project to rehabilitate and improve drainage ditches and levees around the District.

Ditch A Widening Phase I – The contractor is almost complete with widening Ditch A to create 58 acre-feet, or 19,000,000 gallons, of additional flood storage inside the levee.  Work has been delayed for several months due to Brazos River flood conditions outside the levee.  The flooding outside the levee causes additional water to remain in the bottom of Ditch A.  Now that Brazos River levels have dropped and Ditch A has dried out, work can resume in the bottom of the channel.  The contractor just needs to add slope paving around the storm sewer outfalls, complete final grading, and reestablish turf.  The contractor has been delayed by weather for several months, so the District has authorized weekend work, including this weekend on Sunday, July 27.  The contractor may also perform Sunday work in early August to complete construction and wrap up work in Ditch A.  The District will send an update if work is planned for any Sundays in August.

South and East Levee Raising – Raising of the South and East Levees is complete.  The contractor is still working on final cleanup and reestablishing turf.  This includes re-grading the drainage swales at the toe of the levee to ensure water does not pond and quickly drains after storms.  Repairs are also being completed on the levee access driveways that were damaged during construction.

Ditch E Rehabilitation – Ongoing wet conditions have created slope stability issues in upper Ditch E.  Over the next few weeks, the contractor will demobilize from Ditch E to allow time for the slopes to dry.  This will also allow the contractor to place additional resources in Ditch A and complete the scope of work noted above as soon as possible.

Ditch C Repairs – The contractor has completed slope repairs in Ditch C-1 and is performing final cleanup. The contractor continues to work on slope repairs in Ditch C.  Construction is wrapping up on the downstream area of slope repair and crews will continue working upstream, toward Highway 6, as they repair failures in the ditch bottom and on the side slopes.  If drier weather continues, Ditch C slope repairs will be complete in August.

The attached map highlights all project locations.  Please be aware of equipment and traffic when traveling through these construction zones.  FBCLID 2 can be contacted directly with any questions or concerns: www.fbclid2.com/contact.

Third Pump Station Construction Update

Factory testing has started on the seven large pumps for the Third Pump Station.  The test for Pump #1 was successful, and it will be delivered to Sugar Land in early July.  FCBLID 2 has approved overtime and weekend work for the construction contractor to make Pump #1 operational as soon as possible.  Based on the latest schedule, the first pump will be operational by the end of August.  It will take approximately one month to complete the testing procedure for all seven pumps.  The current schedule estimates all new pumps will be in operation by the end of September.

FBCLID 2 appreciates your patience as the District works to complete this critical flood control project.  Additional details are available at: www.fbclid2.com/third-pump-station-construction/.  Please contact FBCLID 2 directly with any questions or concerns: www.fbclid2.com/contact.

FBCLID 2 Pump #1 at Test Facility