Nearly 16 feet of the public right-of-way extends beyond Houston curbs into what many homeowners consider their yards. When we perform street reconstruction or utility work in these areas, access planning is critical for safety and compliance.
We coordinate with City of Houston Public Works and the TxDOT Houston District to maintain driveway access, protect established trees, and meet ADA requirements as work progresses. Our crews typically rebuild one side of the street at a time, allowing residents to maintain some vehicular access throughout the process.
Which Permits, Reviews, And Agreements Control Site Access?
Access near state highways requires TxDOT’s Driveway Access Permit (DAP) through the Houston District system. This includes completing the driveway checklist and following traffic study guidelines when applicable.
TxDOT provides drainage criteria with design guidelines updated in July 2025. The department also offers ATLAS 14 resources for rainfall data analysis. These documents help establish proper stormwater management for sites connecting to state highway infrastructure.
Additional TxDOT requirements may include geotechnical requests for soil investigations. An approved traffic control plan is required during construction phases. Utility attachment agreements apply when crossing or working near existing utilities on TxDOT right-of-way.
For monitoring well installations or environmental remediation work, we coordinate requests to access TxDOT right-of-way. These requests follow specific protocols for petroleum or hazardous substance investigations.
City of Houston Review Requirements
Within Houston city limits, Site Plan Review examines parking layouts, landscaping plans, setbacks, and access configurations. This review ensures compliance with municipal development standards and zoning requirements.
The city requires an Access Agreement under Chapter 10.8 for work affecting public streets or right-of-way. This agreement defines responsibilities for construction impacts, restoration requirements, and ongoing maintenance obligations.
Sidewalk regulations mandate compliance with ADA standards and city specifications. New or reconstructed sidewalks typically follow the 5-foot width standard where feasible.
Floodplain management under Chapter 19 applies to sites within designated flood zones. This review addresses drainage impacts, fill requirements, and flood mitigation measures that could affect site access during construction or future operations.
How Should Right-Of-Way And Driveway Access Be Managed During Work?
We start by identifying the public right-of-way boundaries. In Houston’s residential areas, the public right-of-way typically extends about 16 feet from the back of curb into yards. This creates a work zone that affects the street and portions of properties residents consider their own. Accurate surveying and clear marking of these boundaries prevent conflicts and help property owners understand where construction activity will occur.
Protective barriers and existing markers serve critical functions during construction. Tree protection barriers installed before work begins must remain undisturbed throughout the project. Removing these barriers exposes trees to equipment damage and soil compaction that can kill mature landscaping. Survey markers and utility flags also require protection; removing them creates liability issues and delays when resurveying becomes necessary.
Phased Reconstruction Maintains Essential Access
Street reconstruction typically follows a phased approach to preserve driveway access whenever possible. We reconstruct one side of the street at a time, allowing residents on the unaffected side to maintain normal vehicle access to their properties. This staging requires careful coordination of utilities, drainage, and paving operations to minimize the time each phase takes.
Driveway restrictions create unavoidable disruptions during reconstruction. Property owners should expect periods of 7 to 10 days when their driveways cannot be used safely or legally. During these periods, alternate parking arrangements become necessary. Some neighborhoods allow temporary street parking on the side not under construction, while others require coordination with nearby businesses or community centers for overflow parking.
The directional boring process minimizes surface disruption during utility work. When installing or replacing water lines, gas lines, or electrical conduits, boring equipment creates underground pathways without extensive trenching. This method preserves existing driveways and reduces restoration work, though it requires specialized equipment and careful coordination with existing underground infrastructure.
ADA Compliance and Elevation Changes
New driveway aprons must integrate seamlessly with reconstructed streets while meeting ADA accessibility standards. Street reconstruction often changes the final elevation of the roadway, which affects driveway slopes and transitions. We calculate these elevation changes during the design phase to ensure driveway aprons maintain proper grades for vehicle access while staying within ADA slope requirements.
Sidewalk reconstruction follows specific width standards where feasible. New sidewalks typically measure 5 feet wide to accommodate pedestrian traffic and mobility devices. However, existing utility poles, mature trees, or property line constraints may require modifications to this standard width. These adjustments require documentation and approval through the design review process.
Restoration work addresses both visible and hidden infrastructure changes. New pavement elevation affects drainage patterns around driveways and sidewalks. We document pre-construction conditions with photographs and measurements to ensure proper restoration of landscaping, sprinkler systems, and other features within the public right-of-way. Property owners receive copies of this documentation to verify complete restoration upon project completion.
What Communication And Continuity Plans Keep Residents And Services Moving?
We establish clear communication protocols before construction begins to keep residents informed and minimize disruptions. Written notifications include project details and a 24-hour emergency contact for urgent issues. This contact remains active throughout construction to provide an immediate response to safety concerns or unexpected problems.
Water service coordination requires careful planning with utility providers. For planned shutoffs connected to main line work, we ensure residents receive 24-48 hours’ advance notice with specific timeframes. Most scheduled outages last only a few hours, and we treat any accidental water interruptions as emergency priorities requiring immediate response and restoration efforts.
Door hangers are essential for ongoing communication about access changes. We use these to notify residents when driveways will be temporarily inaccessible and suggest coordinating with neighbors for shared parking arrangements. The notices include specific dates and alternative access routes, and they remind residents about the 24-hour emergency contact for urgent situations.
Trash and recycling pickup requires proactive coordination with waste management services. Residents receive clear instructions to place containers on the unaffected side of the street during active work phases. We coordinate these logistics with local waste haulers to prevent missed collections and maintain neighborhood cleanliness throughout the project.
School bus routing requires early coordination with district transportation departments. Bus stops may need temporary relocation, and drivers need updated route information before construction begins. We work with school officials to identify safe pickup locations and communicate changes to parents through established school notification systems.
Sprinkler systems in the public right-of-way receive special attention during utility work. Irrigation heads may need temporary capping to prevent damage during excavation or paving operations. We document pre-construction conditions with detailed photos and maintain restoration records to ensure the system functions properly upon project completion. Property owners receive notifications about temporary irrigation disruptions and expected restoration timelines.
The 311 reporting system provides residents with a direct channel for non-emergency concerns. We provide the project WBS number and a reference to the Engineering & Construction Division for efficient issue tracking and resolution. This system helps distinguish routine construction-related inquiries from urgent safety matters that require immediate response through our 24-hour contact line.
How Do Houston’s Walkability Projects Affect Access Planning?
Houston’s walkability initiatives have major implications for construction site access planning across downtown. More Space: Main Street 2.0 is the most significant change, converting seven blocks of Main Street from Commerce to Rusk into an 11-block car-free promenade that extends to Allen’s Landing. This permanent closure removes vehicular access along a major downtown corridor and requires us to rethink how materials, equipment, and workers reach adjacent construction sites.
Construction began in June 2025, with completion scheduled for May 2026—just weeks before Houston hosts seven FIFA World Cup matches. The timeline creates overlapping construction zones as Main Street work coincides with other development projects. We coordinate material deliveries and equipment staging around the promenade’s construction schedule and the permanent pedestrian zone it will create.
The promenade includes safety crossings, shaded social areas, landscaping, and public art installations. These elements shape how we plan temporary access routes during construction. Traffic must be redirected to parallel streets such as Fannin, Louisiana, and Milam Streets, which increases congestion and delivery times. We factor these longer routes into scheduling for concrete pours, steel deliveries, and crane operations.
East Blocks and The Plant are additional pedestrian-focused developments that reshape access patterns. East Blocks, led by Pagewood and Wile Interests, converts warehouses in East Downtown into a 10-block mixed-use district with enhanced walkability. The Plant transforms 17 acres in Second Ward into a pedestrian-friendly area with diverse retail and dining options. Both projects prioritize foot traffic over vehicle access, permanently changing how materials move through these neighborhoods.
We integrate these long-term pedestrian zones into our construction access planning by identifying alternative routes early in the design phase. Sites near the Main Street Promenade require material staging areas outside the pedestrian zone, often requiring longer carries or specialized equipment to bridge the gap. Loading docks and service entrances must be positioned to avoid conflicts with pedestrian flows as these districts become fully operational.
The construction schedule for walkability projects creates temporary yet significant access challenges. During the Main Street construction phase, we coordinate with Downtown Houston+ to understand weekly closure schedules and plan around utility relocations, street reconstruction, and infrastructure improvements. This coordination prevents conflicts between our construction deliveries and the promenade installation.
Safe pedestrian routing becomes a priority when these walkability projects intersect with our construction sites. We design temporary walkways that maintain pedestrian access while protecting foot traffic from construction activities. This often requires covered walkways, barrier systems, and clear signage to guide people around work zones without compromising safety.
Conclusion: Key Steps For Compliant Construction Access Planning In Houston
Successful construction access planning in Houston requires balancing regulatory compliance with practical project execution. We coordinate multiple approval processes, protect public infrastructure, and maintain clear communication with affected communities. This comprehensive approach reduces delays, prevents costly revisions, and ensures work proceeds smoothly within Houston’s regulatory framework.
The process starts with securing necessary approvals from both TxDOT and City of Houston authorities. We obtain Driveway Access Permits through the Houston District system, complete required traffic studies, submit detailed traffic control plans, and ensure design documents align with ATLAS 14 drainage criteria. The City of Houston Site Plan Review examines parking, landscaping, and access configurations. Access Agreements under Chapter 10.8 establish clear protocols for work within public areas. We also address sidewalk compliance requirements and complete any necessary floodplain management steps under Chapter 19.
Field operations center on protecting existing infrastructure while maintaining access where possible. We respect the public right-of-way boundaries, typically extending 16 feet from the back of curb, and never disturb protective barriers or markers placed around trees. Our phased approach reconstructs one street side at a time to preserve driveway access during most of the work period. When temporary access restrictions become necessary, we plan alternate parking arrangements and ensure new driveway aprons meet ADA standards with proper slopes and tie-ins.
Communication protocols keep residents informed and services running. We distribute door hangers explaining access limitations and provide 24-hour emergency contacts for urgent issues. Water service interruptions receive 24–48 hours’ advance notice, while we coordinate with schools on bus route adjustments and direct residents to place trash and recycling on unaffected street sides. All routine concerns are logged through 311 using the project WBS number, with references to the Engineering & Construction Division for proper tracking and resolution.
Looking ahead, we integrate staging plans with Houston’s walkability initiatives, including the More Space: Main Street 2.0 program and related pedestrian-focused developments. This coordination ensures our temporary access arrangements align with permanent infrastructure improvements and scheduled street closures tied to major events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup. By planning with both current regulations and future city developments in mind, we create access solutions that work today and support Houston’s long-term vision.
Contact EB3 Construction to develop your compliant construction access plan for Houston projects.
