Road construction continues to reshape how Houston residents get around. From neighborhood street upgrades and traffic signal improvements in Bellaire and Houston to major projects in the Texas Medical Center, here are three upcoming projects to keep an eye on.

Bissonnet Street Reconstruction: This project will help with right-of-way acquisition and reconstruction of existing roadways with concrete paving, curbs, sidewalks, street lighting and underground utilities from Kirby Drive to Edloe Street.

Traffic Signal Improvement Project: The city of Bellaire project includes installing closed-circuit cameras and loop detector sensors at 14 existing traffic signals, building a new traffic management center and optimizing 16 signal intersections.

TMC Transit Center: The Metropolitan Authority of Harris County is investing $17 million to support the Texas Medical Center and install four new elevators and escalators, rehabilitate the pedestrian skybridge, create new walkways and install electric bus chargers.

Registration is open for residents and nonresidents interested in signing up for West University Place’s summer programming through the Parks and Recreation Department.

What you need to know: Open to all ages, the program offers summer classes for sports and activities. Classes are available for youth between the ages of 2 and 14. They are also available for adults ages 18 and up.

In order to register, interested individuals can go online or in person to the West University Place Recreation Center. Prices will be available for individual classes, and fees will vary depending on whether a person is a resident or not.

Some examples: Some of the youth classes include: 

• Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) camp
• Tennis camp
• Art camp
• Ballet
• Bicycle riding
• Fencing
• Karate
• Swim

• Pickleball
• Yoga
• Jazzercise
• Water aerobics
• Sound bath meditation

Houston will now use artificial intelligence to detect leaks and other issues with its pipes.

What happened: Houston City Council passed a purchase order without discussion April 22 for $2.2 million to use services offered by FiberSense US, a technology company specializing in distributed fiber optic sensors.

For three years, the service will use machine learning and AI for intrusion, pipe bursts and leak detection through sensor technology.

How it works: FiberSense US will provide comprehensive monitoring and protection to help the city “proactively manage critical infrastructure.”

FiberSense delivers this service by capturing raw acoustic signals generated by real-world physical events, such as vehicle movements, construction activity, ground disturbances, leaks or impacts, using its sensing technology, according to the agreement.

Continuous monitoring helps identify leaks, bursts, unusual flow conditions, excavation activity and mobility-related disturbances earlier and with greater accuracy.

Catfish and rainbow trout are now making their way to several community lakes in the Greater Houston area and across the state.

How it works: The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is stocking 18 lakes in nine cities around Texas, including Austin, Houston and Bryan-College Station.

The Neighborhood Fishin’ lakes program is aimed at encouraging family fishing at 18 locations around the state that provide parking and are close to neighborhoods.

Quote of note: “Catfish are fun and easy to catch for anglers of all ages and experience levels. If you’ve never fished before, these are the perfect places to get started,” said Marcos DeJesus, East Texas regional director for TPWD’s Inland Fisheries Division, in a news release. “If you are an experienced angler, these are the perfect places to introduce fishing to a friend or family member.”

Texans are expected to save millions in sales taxes on emergency supplies—everything from tarps to generators—during an annual tax holiday April 25-27.

How it works: The sales tax holiday begins at 12:01 a.m. April 24 and lasts until midnight April 27.

Texans are expected to save about $2.4 million in state and local taxes, according to the comptroller’s office. Last year, Texans saved about $2.3 million, agency spokesperson Kevin Lyons said.

According to the comptroller’s office, items qualify for the tax exemption if they are priced at:

• Less than $75 for items including household batteries, fuel containers, flashlights, smoke detectors, tarps and first aid kits

• Less than $300 for hurricane shutters and emergency ladders

• Less than $3,000 for portable generators