Texas Border Business
EDINBURG – Hidalgo County officials today released a video update of the new courthouse construction project.
Construction of the 344,000-square-foot building began in January 2019. The facility will feature 31 courtrooms and a temporary detention center spread over seven floors.
In spite of the pandemic, construction generally continued unabated but an extension for substantial completion was granted to the construction company building the facility, Morganti Texas.
Subsequent substantial completion dates were not reached causing construction to almost come to a halt because of internal issues with the construction company. Hidalgo County hired an independent engineering firm to assess issues of concern regarding the exterior envelope of the building and to determine if another contractor was necessary to remedy these issues or whether to work with Morganti to fulfill its contract with the county.
The engineering firm found a solid building with some roof and window issues. There were no issues with the foundation.
The contractor is correcting the issues and is completing the project. However, county officials felt it important to show the public the progress being made to finish this beautiful project.
“None of the issues identified by the independent engineers were significant in and of themselves,” County Judge Richard F. Cortez said. “Our objective is to get this project finished and give the people of Hidalgo County a structurally safe and operationally comfortable facility for the administration of justice.”
The transition into the new facility is now projected for 2024.
