Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transportation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Uvalde County residents urge review of low-water crossings after heavy rains
Summary
Residents from Precinct 4 told the commissioners court that newly installed low-water crossings on county roads 428 and 429 were damaged by recent heavy rains and urged officials to pause further construction until qualified engineers evaluate designs and mitigation options.
Dr. ID Escamia, identifying himself as representing residents of Uvalde County Precinct 4, told the commissioners court the county's recent low-water crossing projects along county roads 428 and 429 failed to perform after heavy rains and asked the court to pause further construction until a qualified engineer evaluates the designs.
"The residents deserve lowwater crossings that provide the safety, access, and reliability that they were designed to deliver," Dr. ID Escamia said, urging the court to ensure taxpayers receive the work they were promised.
Local resident Wayne Ever, who said he has lived on his road since 1993, told the court the recent washouts show the crossings were not built to withstand expected flows and urged officials to consult USGS and the Army Corps for historical flow data before making repairs or design changes. "You cannot dam a river up," he said, and asked the court to make changes in project oversight and contracting.
County staff and the road department described steps already taken to restore access and make crossings passable after the storm. Road Administrator D. Keratrick reported the department bladed multiple roads, cleaned culverts, installed barricades at low-water crossings, spread material and built a temporary bypass on County Road 373, and completed a chip seal on Yuatti Estates Drive West. He also reported widespread pothole and debris-clearing activity across the county.
Commissioners acknowledged the long-standing nature of the issues and told residents the county will work to rectify damaged crossings and perform needed repairs. The court did not set a specific timeline for engineering reviews or major design changes during the meeting.
Next steps flagged in the discussion included a request from residents that the court pause low-water crossing projects until an engineering evaluation is completed and continued monitoring and repair by the Valley County Road Department when washouts occur.
