Owner: North Harris County Regional Water Authority (NHCRWA)
Engineer of Record: Arcadis
Value: $8,984,817.50
Project Overview
The 84-Inch Water Line Along Gessner Road serves as a critical connection in the North Harris County Regional Water Authority’s (NHCRWA) large-diameter water transmission network. Designed to link the SH 249 Regional Pump Station to the Greens Bayou corridor, this project enhances system capacity and reliability as part of NHCRWA’s ongoing surface water conversion and infrastructure modernization program.
Reytec Construction Resources, Inc. was selected to construct this high-capacity transmission main through a combination of open-cut and trenchless methods—delivering one of the region’s most technically demanding segments of the overall water distribution system.
Scope & Key Components
The project encompassed the construction of approximately 3,800 linear feet of 84-inch steel waterline within the North Gessner Road right-of-way and designated easements, extending from NHCRWA Project 28D to the SH 249 Regional Pump Station.
Key scope elements included:
- 3,600 linear feet of 84-inch steel pipe installed by open-cut excavation.
- 235 linear feet of trenchless tunnel installation under active roadways and utilities.
- 9,500 square yards of reinforced concrete paving including ADA appurtenances.
- Installation of associated manholes, valves, and appurtenances required for system access, operation, and maintenance.
- Coordination with multiple regional projects including the NHCRWA Project 24C known as the SH 249 pump station to ensure seamless tie-in with adjoining NHCRWA infrastructure.
The alignment’s urban setting required detailed planning to accommodate existing underground utilities, traffic management, and local drainage systems—all while maintaining strict adherence to environmental and safety standards.
Challenges & Execution
Executing large-diameter installations within the constrained North Gessner Road corridor required careful sequencing, traffic control, and coordination with adjacent infrastructure projects. Reytec’s team implemented advanced shoring and trench safety systems to manage deep excavations and minimize ground movement near existing utilities.
The 200 linear feet of tunnel installation presented additional engineering challenges, particularly in achieving grade accuracy and maintaining groundwater control. Reytec’s tunneling crews used precision methods to ensure alignment integrity and structural protection of the roadway above.
Through collaboration with NHCRWA engineers, municipal inspectors, and local stakeholders, Reytec maintained quality, safety, and schedule compliance from start to finish.
Impact & Benefits
This project enhances the capacity and resiliency of the regional surface water network by creating a vital linkage between two major NHCRWA facilities. The new 84-inch main increases transmission efficiency, supports future growth, and improves the redundancy needed to ensure a continuous, reliable water supply for the region.
Demonstrating Reytec’s Expertise
The Gessner Road 84-Inch Water Line project highlights Reytec’s mastery in constructing large-diameter transmission mains in complex urban environments. By successfully combining open-cut and trenchless construction methods, Reytec demonstrated its technical versatility, precision, and deep understanding of heavy civil utility work.
Projects like this exemplify Reytec’s reputation for delivering mission-critical water infrastructure with efficiency, innovation, and unwavering attention to safety and quality. Each installation strengthens the backbone of regional water delivery—an achievement that reflects both the company’s expertise and its commitment to building Texas’s future, one line at a time.
