EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — El Paso County commissioners received two updates regarding the Pellicano widening project on Thursday, Jan. 23.
The project aims to transform Pellicano Drive into a six-lane roadway and add improvements such as sidewalks, lighting, and storm drainage. The project was expected to be completed two years ago. However, the original contractor, J.A.R Construction, faced delays, including filing for bankruptcy which stalled the project.
The Camino Real Regional Mobility Authority gave County commissioners two updates on the project, the first regarding the bankruptcy proceeding.
“It looks like we’re getting to the point in the bankruptcy proceeding where the judge will, we hope, in just a matter of weeks, be issuing a decision, holding that the default of the contractor was proper,” said Iliana Holguin, County commissioner for precinct 3.
In the meantime, the Regional Mobility Authority is working with the surety bond company to see if they can continue portions of the project using available federal and state funds set aside for the project.
“It looks like the surety has already started receiving bids and will, in the next couple of weeks, make a decision on who the new contractor will be, to be able to at least start some of that work while the bankruptcy proceeding is ongoing,” Holguin said.
Officials add that the process of finding a new contractor will take a few weeks.
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