HOUSTON – Traffic is moving on upper Kirby, but not for long.  The street is about to undergo major reconstruction as a new drainage line is installed.

The project planned for upper Kirby is more extensive than the section of the street that’s currently under construction in Rice Village.  Along with a new drainage line, the street will be widened and there will be more space for pedestrians.

More than a 130 oak trees will also be cut down in order for this project to be completed. The group that planted them is upset, but project planners say they will be replaced with 148 new trees.

But the most important goal of this project is to prevent flooding.  Just last week, a 30 minute thunderstorm almost flooded the entire street.

11 News photo

More than a 130 oak trees will be cut down in order for this project to be completed.

The Texas Medical Center is also counting on this project to drain flood waters.  That’s because when Tropical Storm Allison hit Houston seven years ago, the Texas Medical Center was hit hard.  Water in the center was up to 6-feet deep, and they lost electricity and air conditioning in the facility.

Traffic may be challenging on Kirby until the drainage line project is completed, but the work could someday save one of the city's most important resources: The Texas Medical Center.