Texas Department of Transportation engineer Valente Olivarez Jr. takes questions during a media conference with Nueces County officials, who demanded the state agency be more transparent on the reasons it halted construction of the new Harbor Bridge. Attending were City Council members Mike Pusley (left) and Ben Molina, a representative from state Sen. Chuy Hinojosa’s office, state Reps. Todd Hunter and Abel Herrero, Nueces County Judge Barbara Canales, Corpus Christi City Manager Peter Zanoni, Port of Corpus Christi Board Chair Charles Zahn, and City Council members Gil Hernandez and John Martinez. Screen capture
A “notice of default” will be sent to the developer of the new Harbor Bridge in Corpus Christi, giving Flatiron/Dragados 15 days to address safety concerns that led to a halt in construction in July.
The announcement came during a Texas Department of Transportation media briefing Tuesday, Aug. 16, which led to another media briefing the following day by a clearly troubled, but united, delegation of local officials.
Hosted by Corpus Christi Mayor Paulette Guajardo in City Council chambers, the Wednesday media conference included state Reps. Todd Hunter (R-Corpus Christi) and Abel Herrero (D-Robstown), Nueces County Judge Barbara Canales, and Port of Corpus Christi Board Chair Charles Zahn. Also speaking and taking questions from the media was local TxDOT engineer Valente Olivarez Jr.
“We are here to ask TxDOT for greater transparency,” Mayor Guajardo said. “TxDOT held a press conference yesterday. None of us were there.”
Calls from upset elected officials who were caught off guard by the TxDOT media briefing resulted in a 3 p.m. conference call with the delegation and TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams the same day. At the city's media conference the following day, officials demanded that TxDOT put in writing all promises made during the conference call.
“We want it confirmed in writing that any cost overruns are not borne by our local government entities,” Rep. Hunter said. “And we want to know, what is the timeline, what is the finish line? We deserve to know. The public deserves to know.”
Hunter proposed possible legislative solutions, which could include holding committee hearings and town halls that would bring TxDOT officials before elected officials and the public to answer questions.
Rep. Herrero said the written agreement should include a commitment from TxDOT to continue maintenance of the existing Harbor Bridge, which was built to last 50 years. Finished in 1956, it is now in its 66th year.
“It is an understatement to say we are disappointed to be having these press conferences,” Herrero said. “We have heard that the (construction halt) was about safety. We are concerned about the safety of the existing Harbor Bridge, too.”
Olivarez, who spoke on behalf of TxDOT, assured the Nueces County delegation that inspections and maintenance of the existing Harbor Bridge have continued and will do so “as long as it has direct traffic.”
“I, myself, drive across that bridge twice a day,” he said. “I am a local, and I feel the frustrations here.”
County Judge Canales said residents need to know what their elected officials know. She pointed to the unity in the room of all of the different elected officials.
“That’s when we get things done, when we work together,” she said. “What the mayor and I would like to see is a timeline and a plan. Just as you know what streets will be closed for repairs, we want that information about the bridge. It’s more than a strategy to keep you informed. It’s the right thing to do.”
TxDOT officials promised the local delegation it would hold regular meetings and phone calls to keep them updated in the future, something else the group would like to see in writing.
