Texas Border Business
EDINBURG – Commissioner Ellie Torres along with Hidalgo County leaders and local officials gathered in Edinburg today to break ground on a $988,803 drainage improvement project — the first of four slated projects to be completed in Precinct 4 as part of the 2018 Hidalgo County Drainage District Board Bond Election approved by voters in November 2018.
Over the last couple of years, the Hidalgo County Drainage District No. 1 has been working to develop a plan of action and negotiations to contract the projects for all four precincts. Precinct 4 will gain 4 of 38 planned project improvements. “The approved funding from our 2018 Bond Election allows the county to tackle some 38 projects throughout Hidalgo County Drainage District No. 1”, explained Raul Sesin, District General Manager, PE, CFM. “The Sunflower Drain Project consists of expanding drainage ditch capacity with more right of way acquisition and upgrading existing culvert crossings and upgrades of connections to the very important South Main Drain,” said Sesin. The project was awarded to Mor-Wil, LLC and designed by The Izaquirre Engineering Group.
Per Sesin, “the project proposes a detention pond and widening of the existing Sunflower Drain, to increase detention and ditch capacity. The project also includes a gate structure and a permanent vertical pump, with a capacity of 70 cubic feet per second and a 10’ x 7‘ reinforced concrete box will outfall storm water from the structure to the existing South Main Drain I, helping surrounding areas.”
“I myself have witnessed the flooding in this area and the devastation it brought to our residents. As we walked the streets post Hurricane Hanna to deliver food and cleaning supplies, my heart was filled with emotion and weighted with despair,” said Commissioner Torres.
For Precinct 4, today’s groundbreaking located off Sunflower Rd, just north of State Highway 107 in San Carlos, marked the first project to get underway. Officials expect the construction project will take about five months to complete.
Commissioner Torres closed the ceremony by stating, “I want to take this time to thank all those before me, who have worked tirelessly to advocate for our county and region. I stand by my colleagues at the County level, our residents and business owners who are here today. I will continue to work with our county and government leaders to continue to improve our drainage infrastructure.”
To keep updated with the 2018 Bond Projects and other projects alike, visit the Hidalgo County Drainage District No. 1 website at https://www.hcdd1.org/main/projects.php
