Amada Baldovinos EDINBURG- with more than three years in the making, the five million dollar UTRGV drainage construction project expected to open after spring break was delayed once again.
The UTRGV Planning and Construction Department initially created the project to improve the drainage system after hurricane Hannah left the quad almost 60-percent underwater on July, 2021.
University Architect, Juan Ortiz said the rain made it difficult to use equipment on a muddy surface.
He added the lack of employees also played a role in causing the project to be delayed.
“The next element is the manpower, contractor not being able to receive enough commitment from his forces to want to do the work, nobody wants to not finish especially for the contractor it cost them money” Ortiz said. “There just not being enough people wanting to work and do those types of trades it’s really been detrimental to the industry all together.”
Since our last report on this project the space now has the addition of plants, new lighting, an amphitheater and benches, but it remains closed.
Ortiz said the project is more than 90-percent completed and hopes the pedestrian walkaways can open at the end of the month.
So far, no word on the completion date.
