RAYMONDVILLE — The city’s paving the way for its biggest street project in about 15 years.
Today, the city-contracted engineering firm Ambiotec is expected to release the estimated cost of the project to repair as many 30 blocks.
“Hopefully, this will give us a roundabout idea,” City Manager Eleazar Garcia said yesterday.
Garcia said he estimates the project cost will range from $1.4 million to $1.6 million.
“It’s going to be a pretty big project,” he said.
Garcia said he will present the estimate to the city’s financial advisor to plan to borrow money to fund the project.
The city plans to sell certificates of obligation after it pays off bonds sold in 2003 to fund a $1.5 million street project — the city’s biggest in the last 15 years.
Garcia estimates the city will spend about $40,000 per city block.
The city cannot afford to fix all streets that need repair, Mayor Gilbert Gonzales said.
“The wish list is too big,” Gonzales said. “We’re going to do the most important part.”
Gonzales said streets will be selected for repair based on criteria including street conditions, traffic volume, proximity to major thoroughfares and schools and residents’ complaints.
“The streets most highly traveled that need the most repair — they’re the ones we have to target,” Gonzales said.
– Street condition
– Traffic volume
– Proximity to major thoroughfares and schools
– Residents’ complaints
