Bel Air council approves $3.09 million engineering work order to advance Cypress Ditch flood project

The Bel Air City Council on Feb. 17 unanimously approved an ordinance authorizing the city manager to execute work order No. 3 with Ardua Group Inc. for up to $3,093,721.90 to advance final design and bid-ready documents for the Cypress Ditch improvements and two regional detention ponds.

The approval moves preliminary engineering into final design for three primary components: Cypress Ditch conveyance improvements, a south regional detention pond, and a north regional detention pond tied to the city’s public works/wastewater site. The work order also funds conceptual planning for larger north–south drainage corridors, coordination with TxDOT’s I-610 drainage work and ongoing grant and partner outreach.

The work order is intended to take selected elements through final plans and bidding so Bel Air can be “shovel ready” if state or federal construction funding becomes available, council and staff said. “We are working everything to put the plans together to be ready to turn dirt in September,” said Chris Kennanico, a project…