Grand Parkway Map Overview Image

Avoiding Environmental Contamination on Houston's Grand Parkway Segments H and I-1

Project Background

Phase I Initial Site Assessments of Grand Parkway Segments H & I-1

The Grand Parkway is a planned 180-plus mile loop around the greater Houston metropolitan area divided into 11 segments, each of which can function separately to facilitate planning, design, and construction.  HVJ Associates conducted a Phase I Initial Site Assessments to identify recognized environmental conditions along the 43-mile long alignment  between US 59 north of Kingwood and IH-10 east of Baytown. 

Practice: Environmental Services

Sector: Road

Location: Chambers, Harris, Liberty and Montgomery Counties, Texas

Services: Environmental Site Assessments

 

Grand Parkway

The Problem

Multi-tract environmental assessment services were needed quickly to keep the project on schedule and budget. Completion of this project was vital to meeting the region’s transportation infrastructure needs.

The Goal

  • Clear previously identified sites so that development can proceed.
  • Identify recognized environmental conditions and use limitations that could potentially prevent project development from being completed on time.

Our Solution

Our environmental personnel worked to identify recognized environmental conditions and possible legal or physical restrictions or limitation on or adjacent to all sites. We worked to eliminate or minimize potential exposures to chemicals of concern or to prevent activities that could interfere with project development. During this project, we conducted environmental site assessments at ten locations along the Grand Parkway alignment ion Segments H and I-1.   

These ESAs were conducted in accordance with American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standard Practice document E-1527-05, “Practice for Environmental Site Assessments: Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Process.” The objectives of these studies were to determine whether recognized environmental conditions may be located on or near the project sites or on adjacent parcels that may lead to an environmental concern. 

Environmental field personnel assessed the current and future rights-of-way to identify the presence or likely presence of any hazardous substance or petroleum products on a property. Additionally, we looked to determine conditions indicating an existing release, a past release or a material threat of a release of any of these substances into structures on the property, the ground, groundwater or surface water of the property. 

The Results

  • Several locations required a further environmental assessment.
  • The assessments were completed on-time to keep the project on schedule.

Share this story