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365 Tollway: RMA approves initial forensic testing; construction 58% paid, board warned retesting could cost $1.5M—$3M
Summary
The Hidalgo County RMA authorized an initial $167,000 forensic testing plan and heard construction updates showing about $155.4 million paid to date on the 365 Tollway; staff estimated representative retesting at about $1.5 million and a full retest up to $3 million.
The Hidalgo County Regional Mobility Authority board on Feb. 2025 authorized an initial forensic and verification testing work authorization and heard construction updates showing about 58% of contract value paid to date for the 365 Tollway project. Staff warned that verifying the prior lab's work could cost between $1.5 million and $3 million depending on the extent of sampling required.
The board approved work authorization No. 1 to Aster LP for a Phase 1 verification report to TxDOT and the Federal Highway Administration for the construction-materials testing program; staff reported the work authorization value at $167,000 and recommended approval. "This work authorization is in the amount of a hundred and 67,000. Staff recommends approval," staff said during the meeting; the motion passed on a voice vote.
Chief construction engineer Ramon Navarro gave the construction status: the RMA has paid $155,376,811 to date (about 58.28% of contract value) and the next pay application would raise that to roughly 60% paid. Navarro said the project has used about 85% of the contract time and the authority expects a contractor request for approximately a 100-day time extension. The board was told the authority has issued 15 change orders, received 235 RFIs and processed 231 submittals.
Navarro reviewed separate work streams: a wetland mitigation site (about 68% complete), toll integration and the first toll gantry location planned at Glasscock Road, and ongoing embankment, substructure and irrigation crossing work. He said the toll integration contractor is 13.6% complete and that initial gantry erection and factory acceptance testing are scheduled for early March.
On the materials-testing issue, staff described a two-step approach: submit a representative-sampling plan for TxDOT and FHWA approval rather than retesting every structure. "We're proposing to do representative sampling and not go test every single structure or every single slab, and that's for them to accept our plan," staff said when explaining the work authorization. Staff further explained that a full retest of every element would approach the higher cost estimate.
The board also approved construction-support services from HDR Engineering (supplemental work authorization) in the amount of $447,385.83 and amended HDR's contract maximum payable by the corresponding amount. Staff said HDR will continue to support review of submittals, resolve design-construction conflicts, and assist with toll and structural reviews.
Board members asked when toll collection will begin. Staff said tolls are scheduled to begin Jan. 1, 2026, subject to construction and systems completion.
Why this matters: the material-testing verification affects regulatory acceptance by TxDOT and FHWA and could trigger costly rework if tests or construction elements fail verification. The project's schedule, pay status and the possibility of a time extension will affect costs, operations and the timeline to open the tolled facility.
No litigation or extraordinary remedial action was approved at the meeting; the actions taken were to fund verification sampling, continue construction oversight, and proceed with the toll-integration plan.
