HOUSTON – Houston won a $9.4 million federal grant that will be used to improve high-water signals at 40 intersections throughout the city, officials announced Tuesday.
The intersections will be equipped with battery-powered sensors and lights that will alert drivers to flood waters in the intersections.
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The current signals are solar-powered and can stop functioning in extended periods of cloudy weather. The new equipment will include a backup power generator that will remedy that problem.
The new signals will also use red lights to warn drivers instead of the yellow lights used by the current system. Officials said drivers often confuse yellow lights for situations that are not life-threatening.
The new sensors will also be connected to partner websites like the Harris County Flood Control District and Houston Transtar, which will allow drivers to see high-water warnings automatically plotted on a map.
The grant will cover nearly two-thirds of the $14.4 million needed to complete the upgrades. To make up the difference, Houston will contribute $3.27 million, the Texas Department of Transportation will contribute $1.39 million and Harris County will contribute $380,000.
Officials said the late Councilman Larry Green, who died Tuesday, advocated for the grant during a recent trip to the federal Department of Transportation in Washington.
Which intersections will be upgraded?
Below is a map of the intersections that will get the new equipment:
Below is a list of the intersections that will be upgraded:
- Main at Holcombe
- Elgin at Railroad
- Allen Parkway at Montrose
- Allen Parkway at Waugh
- Fannin at Holcombe
- 6514 Jensen
- 1700 Jensen
- 3500 Kelley
- 5800 Elysian
- 7506 Hardy
- 5405 Mesa
- Old Galveston Road
- Houston at Memorial
- Shepherd at Memorial
- Houston at Railroad
- North Main at Railroad
- Clinton at Railroad
- Yale at Railroad
- Lawndale at Railroad
- Broadway at Railroad
- 75th and Railroad
- Harrisburg at Railroad
- Forest Hill at Railroad
- Wayside at Lawndale
- Polk at Railroad
- Franklin under Commerce
- Old Spanish Trail at Railroad
- South Richey at Railroad
- Shaver at Railroad
- Red Bluff at Railroad
- Ranchester at Westpark Tollway
- I-10 at Beltway 8
- Highway 6 at I-45
- Griggs at OST
- Alt US 90 at Beltway
- I-69 Frontage at Beltway
- Will Clayton at I-69
- I-45 Frontage at Beltway
- Alt US 90 at Railroad