New Harlingen street crew to double paving projects

HARLINGEN — The city’s launching a $1.5 million street repair program, aiming to nearly double the project’s number of paved miles while planning about 30% in savings.

This year, officials are planning to repair 23 streets, stretching along more than seven miles across parts of Harlingen’s five districts, City Engineer Luis Vargas said Thursday.

“It’s a little more,” he said, referring to the project’s estimated number of paved miles. “We attempted to select the streets in the worst condition, scattered around town in each district.”

As part of the city’s annual street repair program, city commissioners picked the streets based on staff recommendations.

In 2022, officials hired consultants who toured the city, rating streets based on estimated lifespans of 20 years and under, Vargas said.

This year, officials tapped streets with lifespans of about four years and under, he said.

While planning the city’s new $67.2 million general fund budget, commissioners formed a 10-man street paving crew, earmarking $629,230 to cover salaries and benefits while setting aside $2.28 million to buy heavy equipment.

Under the new program, officials are counting on about 30% in savings while the crew’s in-house work is expected nearly double the number of streets paved under the program’s annual $1.5 million budget funded through residents’ monthly street maintenance fee.

“In the last three years, the city spent, on average, $450,000 per mile on streets repairs,” Vargas said. “In 2025, the estimate per mile is $315,000.”

While the city hired a contractor, with the lowest bid coming in at $1.75 million, to pave about four miles worth of roadways last year, this year the street crew’s projected to pave 7.28 miles, he said.

Now, officials are cutting out the contractor’s fees, Vargas said.

“If we do it in-house, we save money because we don’t have to pay a contractor and we’re buying materials in bulk,” he said, adding officials are planning to use the program’s $1.5 million budget to buy road-paving materials.

While officials picked experienced workers to man the street crew, the unit includes a superintendent and manager.

“We plan for this crew to be as good as any contractor,” Vargas said. “They have the experience to repair streets. We should have the same equipment the big companies have.”

In March, officials are planning to launch the project based on their new street list.

Here’s where the work will happen:

>> Annette Drive, from Morgan Boulevard to 25th Street, estimated at 1,205 feet;

>> New Combes, from Loop 499 to the northern city limits, estimated at 447 feet;

>> Matz Avenue, from New Combes Highway to Business 77, estimated at 1,970 feet;

>> Winddrift, from East Matz Avenue to the cul-de-sac, estimated at 407 feet;

>> Orange Heights Drive from Commerce Street to New Combes Highway, estimated at 3,215 feet;

>> North E. Street from the railroad tracks to the street’s northern end, estimated at 516 feet;

>> West Ona Street from Commerce Street to North D Street, estimated at 976 feet;

>> North H Street, from West Van Buren Avenue to the street’s northern end, estimated at 573 feet;

>> South 10th Street from Harrison Avenue to Jackson Avenue, estimated at 746 feet;

>> South 12th Street from Harrison Avenue to Jefferson Avenue, estimated at 1,785 feet;

>> Crockett Elementary School’s west side street from West Jefferson Avenue to the street’s northern end, estimated at 332 feet;

>> East Taylor Avenue-17th Street from Business 77 to Tyler Avenue, estimated at 1,420 feet;

>> Stone Drive from South 17th Street to the cul-de-sac, estimated at 662 feet;

>> Rock Drive from the end of Stone Drive to the cul-de-sac, estimated at 284 feet;

>> South 16th Street from East Taylor Street to the street’s south end, estimated at 304 feet;

>> Becky Lane from South 25th Street to Emerald Lake Drive, estimated at 879 feet;

>> South Parkwood Drive from Business 77 to the street’s east end, estimated at 4,644 feet;

>> West Lincoln Avenue from South M Street to South F Street, estimated at 2,687 feet;

>> West Grant Avenue from South M Street to South F Street, estimated at 2,681 feet;

>> South J Street from West Filmore Avenue to Expressway 77, estimated at 2,700 feet;

>> Graham Road from Dilworth Road to Nesmith, East Cl, estimated at 3,290 feet;

>> Dilmorth Road from the Interstate 2 frontage road to Business 83, estimated at 2,292 feet; and

>> South Palm Boulevard from Business 83 to Garrett Road, estimated at 4,434 feet.

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