Construction is approximately halfway complete on Segment B of the Cullen Boulevard Transportation Improvements project in Houston:
- A new storm sewer has been recently installed along the northbound lanes of Cullen from the Parking Lot 9B entrance to south of the Wheeler Avenue intersection.
- Construction is underway on two new METRO and University of Houston bus pads.
- Existing pavement has been demolished on the southbound lanes at the Wheeler Avenue intersection in preparation for new concrete pours.
The project is a joint effort between Harris County, the University of Houston, the City of Houston, METRO, and multiple utility companies.
Construction on Segment A ran from North MacGregor to Wheeler Avenue and was completed in 2020. Segment B continues the improvements to safety, mobility, and transportation facilities along the University of Houston main campus corridor from Wheeler Ave to I-45, integrating pedestrian, bicycle, bus, and vehicular traffic all into the same right of way, while improving the boulevard’s overall aesthetics.
“This project will not only provide reconstruction of Cullen Blvd, but will also provide much improved pedestrian and bicycle mobility in the Cullen Blvd corridor,” says Project Manager Craig Hutson, P.E. “The improvements will have a positive impact on all the students and UH staff who travel along Cullen on a daily basis, and its shared use paths will provide additional access for attendees of on-campus sporting events.”
The project replaces existing narrow sidewalks on both sides of Cullen Blvd with wider shared use paths (SUPs) and lighting, improves transit stops for both METRO and UH buses, improves landscaping, and reduces flooding by expanding drainage capacity.
“Drainage is an important issue throughout the Greater Houston Area,” says Hutson. “It is especially important at UH, with its large pedestrian and bicycle numbers. Students and campus attendees don’t want to worry about drainage issues while on the campus. They want to move quickly and efficiently through the Cullen corridor to get to where they need to go daily.”
Construction is expected to be complete by the fall of 2023.
