The opening of Hidalgo County’s new courthouse has again faced a delay toward opening to the public, but the $177 million price-tag has not increased.
The substantial completion date has changed twice since The Monitor last toured the courthouse in April when officials said the target date for substantial completion was May 31 with an estimate that it would be open to the public and operating by September.
Carlos Sanchez, spokesman for Hidalgo County Judge Richard F. Cortez, said Thursday that the date for substantial completion was then set to July, but it was delayed due to a variety of reasons, but much of the delay had to do with high-tech issues and wiring.
Because of this, the substantial completion date was scheduled for Aug. 27, but instead reached the target date by Aug. 30.
However, contractors are still working on the punch list, which means they are checking out all the work to make sure it conforms with the contract and to identify any other issues with the building that might need to be addressed.
“As it stands now, the building can effectively be used,” Sanchez said.
He also said that part of the delay has to do with the first floor of the courthouse where the jail is for people who are in custody and scheduled for court hearings.
Authorities are being methodical about the security and technology on that floor, Sanchez said.
As of now, Sanchez said the goal is to begin moving everyone from the old courthouse into the new courthouse in mid-October.
However, Sanchez said a date for a public opening has not been scheduled.
The question of when the building will open came up Wednesday during the high-profile death penalty case against an Edinburg man accused of shooting a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper, who later died.
State District Judge Letty Lopez told defense attorneys representing 27-year-old Victor Godinez and prosecutors representing the state of Texas over the death of Moises Sanchez, 49, that the trial could not go forward until the new courthouse is open.
That building has a large room that can be used for jury selection and high-profile trials.
The Monitor has previously reported that the parties need 800 to 1,000 potential jurors for jury selection in the case.
The current auditorium used in the old courthouse for jury selection only seats around 175 people.
