Texas Border Business
By Roberto Hugo González / Texas Border Business
WESLACO, Texas — Mayor Adrian Gonzalez said the City of Weslaco is seeking federal assistance for three major drainage projects while continuing to prepare engineering plans intended to reduce flooding and improve long-term infrastructure.
In an exclusive interview, Gonzalez said he recently traveled to Washington, D.C., to advocate for approximately $30 million to $33 million in funding for the Plaza, Agostadero and Paisano drainage projects.
The mayor said the projects represent some of the city’s highest infrastructure priorities because they address areas that have experienced repeated flooding.
Gonzalez said the Paisano project carries personal significance because it serves the neighborhood where he grew up and where members of his family continue to live.
He said the city has already applied for federal design funding for the Paisano project but is prepared to move forward with local funding if necessary.
“If we don’t receive the federal funding within about a month and a half, we’re going to self-fund the design,” Gonzalez said, adding that the city wants to keep the project on schedule rather than delay construction.
According to Gonzalez, preparing engineering plans before construction is essential because completed designs allow projects to compete for state and federal infrastructure funding and move forward more quickly once financial resources become available.
The mayor said Weslaco has adopted a strategy of making projects “shovel ready” by completing engineering work in advance.
To support that effort, the city has hired 19 engineering firms with expertise in civil engineering, water, wastewater, traffic and mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems. Gonzalez said each firm has been assigned projects, so multiple infrastructure improvements can move through design simultaneously.
He said the city’s infrastructure program extends beyond municipal departments and requires coordination with regional and state agencies.
According to Gonzalez, Weslaco is working closely with Hidalgo County Precinct 1, Hidalgo County Drainage District No. 1 and Irrigation District No. 9 to improve drainage channels and ensure stormwater can move efficiently out of the city.
He also said the city is coordinating with the Texas Department of Transportation because major roadways, including Texas Boulevard and the Interstate 2 frontage roads, are under TxDOT jurisdiction.
Gonzalez said representatives from TxDOT, including the agency’s chief engineer from Austin, have visited Weslaco and expressed a willingness to collaborate on drainage improvements affecting state highways.
The mayor said engineering, planning and intergovernmental cooperation are critical components of the city’s long-term strategy to strengthen infrastructure while positioning projects to compete successfully for outside funding.
He said the objective is to complete projects correctly rather than rely on temporary measures, emphasizing that durable infrastructure requires careful planning before construction begins.
This article is Part 3 of Weslaco 2030, a Texas Border Business special series examining the city’s long-term infrastructure, drainage and growth strategy through exclusive interviews with Mayor Adrian Gonzalez.
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