Ian Juarez HARLINGEN – The City of Harlingen began constructions on 4 new drainage projects on Oct. 1 for the new fiscal year.
In an article by the National Weather Service, Cameron County was hit hard by the record-breaking flood in March compared to the rest of the Rio Grande Valley.
Harlingen Public Works Director Chris Torres said the flood was a major factor for the new drainage efforts.
“Back in March, we received 22 plus inches of rain, and this area got anywhere between 2 and 4 feet of water into their homes,” Torres said. “The City of Harlingen has suffered a few rain events this year where it has taken a toll on certain neighborhoods. Especially like the one that we’re working on right now, which is Secluded Acres.”
Torres said the way the projects were conducted was in the best interests of residents, as the city moves its equipment to not affect anyone living near the project sites.
“The end goal is to make sure that if we retain a lot more water in the ditch, there’s less water on the street or in their homes,” Torres said. “And so right now, when we’re working on Secluded Acres, we should be done with the project in about I would say four to five weeks.”
The city is using its own resources as well as collaborating with El Clavo Lumber, a contracting company, to work on the drainage projects around Harlingen.
Torres said the city will have enough projects to work on for the next four to five years if everything moves on schedule.
