RAYMONDVILLE — The city is revising a list of streets earmarked for repairs after an engineering estimate came in about $500,000 higher than projected.
The city-contracted firm Ambiotec Civil Engineering presented a $2 million estimate for the repair of about 20 streets, engineer Vicente Mendez said yesterday.
But the city expected the estimate would range from $1.4 million to $1.6 million.
Mayor Gilbert Gonzales said the city was working with the engineering firm to try to lower estimated costs.
“We’re going to revisit the whole plan,” Gonzales said. “We went over it and we’re going to tweak it some more to make some changes.”
A review found some streets did not require extensive repairs.
However, some intersections required repair as a result of damage caused by standing rain water.
“Some streets don’t need repair — just the intersections, where the water stands,” 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.
Mendez said the firm will work to stretch the city’s dollars.
“We’re trying to maximize the money we have,” Mendez said. “At the end of the day, it depends on the condition of the street and trying to get more for your dollar. The condition of some streets is worse than others. Some of the streets maybe we can spot repair.”
City Manager Eleazar Garcia estimates the city will spend about $40,000 per city block.
The city is planning its biggest street project in 15 years.
Certificates of obligation will be sold after the city pays off bonds sold in 2003 to fund a $1.5 million street project — the biggest in the past 15 years.
$2 million
engineering estimate
$1.4 to $1.6 million
city projection
