After several weeks of barrels, detours and fresh tar, the repaving of one of the Heights’ busiest back roads is done.
By Jim Towers, M.J.A., J.D.
HHI News
Fresh asphalt covers White Oak Drive at Houston Avenue, with downtown visible past the overpass. Photo: Jim Towers / HHI
White Oak Drive has been completely repaved.
The work took several weeks. For most of that time, drivers threading between Houston Avenue and the Heights dodged orange barrels, lane closures and the smell of hot asphalt. That is over now. The road is black, smooth and striped with a new double yellow line.
The White Oak Drive and Houston Avenue intersection, where some construction barrels remain. Photo: Jim Towers / HHI
White Oak is not a showpiece street. It runs along the bayou side of the Heights, under thick walls of trees and vines, past bungalows, picket fences and apartment complexes. It is the road locals use to get downtown without touching I-45. For years it carried patches on top of patches. Anyone who drove it after a hard rain knew where the bad spots were.
The new surface runs right up to the curb along the residential stretch of White Oak Drive. Photo: Jim Towers / HHI
White Oak Drive bends past bungalows and live oaks. The new striping is visible at the curve. Photo: Jim Towers / HHI
Now the ride is quiet. The surface runs curb to curb through the residential stretch, around the bends, and down to the S-curve at Sabine Street.
A few orange barrels were still standing at the Houston Avenue intersection when HHI drove the length of the road. Fresh paint marks have already appeared on the new pavement near one cross street. Marks like these often mean utility locates or survey work, but HHI has not confirmed what these are for. HHI will be watching to see whether anyone cuts into the new surface.
Paint marks have already appeared on the newly paved surface. HHI has asked what they are for. Photo: Jim Towers / HHI
For now, the drive is a pleasure. Enjoy it while it lasts.
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