City updates: Hughes Road paving due by Aug. 7; $13 million federal drainage project for Moores Addition

City staff updated the Dickinson City Council on several infrastructure projects affecting drainage, roads and school safety. Hughes Road drainage and paving is on schedule for substantial completion by August 7, which staff said should minimize impacts to school opening. The manager said reinforced concrete boxes installed during the project have performed well during heavy rain events.

On a separate, federally funded project, staff reported engineering is underway for a $13,000,000 drainage project in Moores Addition. Engineers are seeking permits related to pipeline corridors that cross the area; staff emphasized the design uses siphons and reinforced concrete pipe and will not rely on detention ponds that require land acquisition. The city is coordinating with pipeline owners and explained rights‑of‑way and corridor constraints mean certain digging is restricted, which informed the chosen solution.

Council also heard an update on a TxDOT Safe Routes to School project on FM 517 near Dickinson High School: RFQ for engineering closed July 10 and staff has forwarded selection results to TxDOT for approval; once TxDOT approves, the city will negotiate a contract with the engineering firm and return to council for contract approval.