MARFA — The City of Marfa is hoping to start work soon on sorely-needed repairs to W. Madrid, S. Kelly and S. Abbott streets around the Marfa Housing Authority.
The city received a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant, which aims to improve living environments for low to moderate income residents in rural areas, from the Texas Department of Agriculture for the repairs this time last year.
The city worked with engineer Frank X. Spencer & Associates, out of El Paso, to conduct preliminary engineering, including developing drawings and technical specifications for the streets. Core samples were also collected. Recently the city put the project out for bid with a deadline of February 20.
Interim City Manager Kelly Perez said first a contractor will need to be chosen to perform the work, but the city is aiming to complete the street repairs by August.
Perez said it is not yet clear how long the streets will be closed and what a potential re-route could be. Once bids from contractors are in clearer timelines may be established, she said.
Per grant requirements, the city has two years to get the project underway, meaning they are still in compliance.
The city has also budgeted for an additional $2.1 million worth of street repairs to be financed by a 2022 tax note. They have been working with JACOB/MARTIN on preliminary engineering for repairs to several streets including Third, Mesa, Gonzales, Summer and Edinburg. Perez said that preliminary work should be done and presented to the mayor and City Council within a couple of weeks. Once that is done the city will open the project up for bid. The ideal timeline for those repairs is to start by September, she said.