There are still 10 roads underwater in Collin County and several others that are still in need of repairs, Public Works Director Jon Kleinheksel told county commissioners during Monday’s Collin County Commissioners Court meeting.
“In the spring and early summer we were inundated with unprecedented amounts of rain,” he said. “Lavon two weeks ago had nine inches of rain in seven hours. We still have several roads in that particular area that are still underwater.”
The county has been working diligently to repair the 232 roadways damaged by the flooding. So far, Kleinheksel said the county has spent more than $371,000 on repairs to roadways, rights of way and drainage and will spend at least another $450,000 before the projects are complete.
“There are 36 roads with light damage, 36 of moderate damage and 20 roads with heavy damage,” he said. “At this time, there are still 10 roads closed within the county due to high water. It will take the county until October to completely repair and reopen all of the roadways. The estimated total cost for roadway repairs, including labor costs and materials, is $450,000.”
Klienheksel said the county is short on manpower but is working to determine the most needed repairs and tend to them first.
“Basically, all of our construction projects have been put aside for the foreseeable future until we can get caught up on this,” Klienheksel said. “We will have to go into maintenance mode until at least the later part of October. We’ve got a big task ahead of us.”
County commissioners are requesting for an update in the coming weeks to determine whether the department needs additional funding to complete repairs.
“We need to do something,” Precinct 1 Commissioner Cheryl Williams said. “You are tasked beyond what you are able to do at this point. Your department is short on people, and you have done a stellar job. You work late hours and you are up way before we are and you are monitoring 24/7 and we thank you for that. We need to get you some relief.”
