Contractors to Begin Work on Projects Delayed by Ballenger Bankruptcy

New contractors already selected on nearly half of Ballenger projects defaulted last fall

AUSTIN — Progress on most of the 22 projects (listed below) that were delayed in December due to the default and bankruptcy of Ballenger Construction will resume this month with new contractors selected by the responsible bonding company to finish the work.

“We appreciate the public’s patience and look forward to continuing these projects at no additional cost to taxpayers,” said Veronica Beyer, Texas Department of Transportation spokesperson. “We were recently notified by the sureties that more than half of the projects were awarded contracts and would resume construction beginning this month.”

Ballenger Construction notified TxDOT in the fall of its intent to default on the 22 contracts it held with the state. Since then, TxDOT has worked with the surety companies to get the affected projects moving as quickly as possible while maintaining the safety of the construction zones.

Project list

Austin area

• Williamson County: Replacement of Lakeway Drive bridge at I-35 near the Georgetown Municipal Airport. The contractor is Chasco. Project expected to resume in April.
• Williamson County: Construction of overpass at O’Conner Road and associated frontage roads west of Loop 1 and SH 45 interchange in Round Rock. The contractor is Zachary. Project is expected to resume in March.
• Hays County: Construction of Main Street bridge at I-35 in Buda. The surety company is working with Yates Construction to add finishing touches to the project.

Corpus Christi area

• Live Oak County: Construction of new lanes on U.S. 59 between U.S. 281 and Lagarto Road in George West. The surety company is working with a completion contractor to add finishing touches to the project.
• Nueces County: Construction of frontage roads on I-37 between Carbon Plant Road and McKinzie Road in Annaville. The surety company is working with a completion contractor to add finishing touches to the project.
• Nueces County: Construction of direct connectors from I-37 to Joe Fulton Corridor in Corpus Christi. The surety company is working with a completion contractor to add finishing touches to the project.
• San Patricio County: Construction of an overpass-underpass at U.S. 77 and Business 77 in Sinton. Bids to complete this project were accepted in February and work is expected to resume April 2013.

Laredo area

• Duval County: Widening and repair of FM 1329 between FM 2295 and 3.14 miles north of FM 716 in the Rios area. Bids to complete this project will be accepted mid-March and work is expected to resume April 2013.
• Webb County: Construction of an overpass on Loop 20 at SH 59 in Laredo. H.L. Zumwalt Construction has been selected by the surety company and the project is expected to resume in March.

 Pharr area

• Brooks County: Construction of a four-lane expressway on U.S. 281 between
  FM 3066 and FM 1418 in Falfurrias. Yates Construction resumed construction mid-February.
• Cameron County: Construction of a raised median along U.S. 77 between Business 77 and Business 83 in Harlingen. The surety company is negotiating terms with a selected completion contractor. The project is expected to resume late March.
• Hidalgo County: Construction of an overpass and frontage roads along U.S. 83 and Bryan Road in Mission. Yates Construction resumed construction mid-February.
• Hidalgo County: Widening and repair of U.S. 281 between FM 907 and FM 493 near Pharr. Bids to complete this project were accepted in February and work is expected to resume early April 2013.
• Hidalgo County:  Resurfacing of SH 107 between FM 1015 and FM 3071 at Edcouch. Bids to complete this project were accepted in February and work is expected to resume early April 2013.
• Hidalgo County: Widening SH 364 between FM 1924 and FM 676 in Palmview. Bids to complete this project were accepted in February and work is expected to resume early April 2013.
• Starr County: Rebuilding U.S. 83 to add passing lanes between Loma Blanca Road and the Zapata-Starr county line in the Falcon Heights area. The surety company is negotiating terms with a selected completion contractor. The project is expected to resume late March.
• Willacy County: Construction of expressway main lanes and an overpass-underpass on U.S. 77 between FM 1018 and FM 498 in Lyford. Bids to complete this project were accepted in February and work is expected to resume early April 2013.

San Antonio area (all are in Bexar County)

• Construction of new roadway lanes on I-10 between Loop 1604 and Huebner Road in San Antonio. The surety company is negotiating terms with a selected completion contractor. The project is expected to resume in March.
• Construction of new roadway – Wurzbach Parkway – between Jones-Maltsberger and Wetmore in San Antonio. The surety company is negotiating terms with a selected completion contractor. The project is expected to resume in March.
• Construction of new roadway – Wurzbach Parkway – between Blanco Road and West Avenue in San Antonio. Bids to complete this project will be accepted early March and work is expected to resume April 2013.
• Construction of an underpass on Medical Drive at Fredericksburg Road in San Antonio. TxDOT has reassumed responsibility for the project and will accept new bids late spring. Work is expected to begin summer 2013.
• Construction of an underpass on SH 151 at Loop 1604 in San Antonio. Project is being redesigned by TxDOT and will be rebid once an approved design is complete.