PORT ISABEL — Roads here are slated to get what officials said are long-needed repairs in areas that require frequent repaving.
During a regular meeting this past week, the City Commission moved forward with spending about $220,000 to repair intersections throughout the city as part of two separate construction projects. The local Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone is anticipated to contribute an additional $20,000.
Commissioners accepted a $69,540 bid from G&T Paving in Brownsville for repairs to intersections along Island and Port roads. City Manager Jared Hockema said engineering for the project will cost about $20,000.
“It’s been many years since we appropriated money for repairs,” Mayor Juan Jose “J J” Zamora said. “It’s going to be the beginning of more to come soon.”
Hockema said a city ordinance requires all new streets in the city to be constructed using concrete. Asphalt roads in Port Isabel are repaired frequently due to damage from moisture.
“Intersections have the most traffic, the downward force of vehicles as they stop or turn, and you tend to have … drainage or standing water,” he said. “That’s the biggest best bang for our buck, to use concrete.”
Originally, commissioners set aside $120,000 for Island and Port road repairs. With the bid coming in under budget, the remaining funds will go toward additional streets slated for repairs.
Hockema said the total amount now allocated to 10 road sections similarly in need of concrete is about $151,000. A call for bids will be posted next week.
Road segments flagged among the highest priority for repairs include the Island and Bass intersection, Island and Pompano intersection, the north side of Maxan and Yturria, and the section of Maxan in front of the Post Office.
