WESLACO, Texas – Weslaco is using a group of 19 engineering firms to move drainage, water, wastewater, traffic and building-system projects through design as the city prepares for long-term infrastructure investment.
Mayor Adrian Gonzalez said the city is shifting away from temporary responses to flooding and toward projects designed to remain effective for 15 to 20 years or longer. Each engineering firm has been assigned specific work so multiple projects can advance at the same time.
The strategy is intended to leave Weslaco with completed designs and permits when state or federal money becomes available. Projects that are already engineered can move into construction more quickly than proposals that still require technical work.
Gonzalez estimated that fully addressing Weslaco's drainage needs could require more than $100 million. Because that amount cannot be spent at once, the city is prioritizing neighborhoods with repeated flooding while developing later phases for other areas.
City departments are also responsible for maintaining storm inlets, drainage channels and other infrastructure after construction. Officials have asked residents not to dump trash, brush or yard waste into ditches because obstructions can reduce the capacity of the drainage system during heavy rain.
The mayor acknowledged frustration from residents who want immediate relief after storms. He said technical review, property access, permitting and funding can make permanent projects slower than temporary repairs but are necessary to avoid repeatedly spending money on the same problem.
The city has not identified a single completion date for the overall program. Individual projects will move according to design readiness, available funding and construction schedules.
