Pellicano Drive construction in far east El Paso remains on hold, no new start date
The reconstruction and widening of Pellicano Drive on the far East Side was supposed to be a traffic-congestion solution to commuters living in neighborhoods east of Loop 375 and around Horizon City.
Instead, the 3.1-mile project is a sore spot as construction is at a standstill.
In 2017, El Paso County entered into a contract with the Camino Real Regional Mobility Authority, a political subdivision that partners with local governments to oversee road and transportation projects such as the reconstruction of that stretch of Pellicano Drive. The project was supposed to be completed in July 2022.
Construction began in 2020, but the work slowed down in 2022 and stopped in mid-2023 because of a dispute between CRRMA and the contractor, J.A.R. Concrete, which has blamed CRRMA’s handling of the project as the reason it stopped its work.
Joe Rosales Jr., owner of J.A.R., could not be reached for comment but in June told El Paso Inc. that his company experienced cash flow problems because CRRMA stopped paying them. Rosales noted that J.A.R. continued working on the project for six months after the payments stopped.
J.A.R. filed for bankruptcy in March 2023. A request by CRRMA to get a default order against the contractor is also being contested in the courts, which means that the bond company secured by J.A.R. at the onset of the project cannot step in and finish the work.
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Raymond L. Telles, CRRMA executive director, talked to El Paso Matters about the project and its problems.
El Paso Matters: Can you briefly describe the scope and cost of the Pellicano Drive expansion?
Telles: The Pellicano project was awarded at a total cost of $21.6 million and consists of the reconstruction of Pellicano Drive from Loop 375 to Darrington/Berryville. Improvements will result in a six-lane divided roadway with raised medians, concrete pavement, curb and gutter, sidewalks, landscaping, safety lighting, storm drainage, signing and striping.
El Paso Matters:Why did construction stop and how far along were they? How much was paid to them?
Telles: While the contractor informally referenced internal operational issues that may have led to the slowing and eventual stoppage of work, ultimately only the contractor can speak to this question.
To the extent these operational issues were at play, the CRRMA made every effort to support the continued construction of the project. By way of example, the CRRMA and its team expedited payments to the contractor, reached out directly to subcontractors and suppliers to assist with the provision of services and materials, and held additional partnering meetings to identify ways to continue project progress.
In spite of the CRRMA’s efforts, the contractor failed to advance the project and perform its ongoing obligations. When it became abundantly clear that the contractor could no longer advance the project, the CRRMA initiated the default process.
The contractor completed approximately 47% of the project and has been paid more than $10.5 million.
El Paso Matters:Is there any way of knowing how long this project will be tied up in bankruptcy court? Is there anything that CRRMA or El Paso County can do to get construction started?
Telles: Unfortunately, there is no way of knowing how long the bankruptcy process will take. However, the CRRMA has been aggressively pursuing alternative ways of advancing the project and we are hopeful that we will be able to restart construction despite the ongoing legal issues.
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El Paso Matters:Are alternate routes or roads being built or opened around Pellicano Drive to ease congestion?
Telles: There is a relief route (operating as a northbound extension of Mission Ridge Boulevard) that we are maintaining to help ease congestion during the reconstruction of Pellicano. There are also several roadways being planned to assist with the growth in the area.
El Paso Matters:The East Side, especially east of Loop 375 to Horizon City, is rapidly growing. Are any other major thoroughfares planned or any existing roads being expanded?
Telles: Yes, there are several roadway projects being developed to address the growth on the city’s East Side.
The following examples include CRRMA involvement: The extension of John Hayes Street is currently under construction, which would extend Darrington/Berryville north from Pellicano Drive to connect to John Hayes at Montwood Drive. Darrington/Berryville is also currently under design to extend south from Pellicano to Eastlake Boulevard. Plans are currently in design to extend Tierra Este Road north from Pellicano Drive to Cozy Cove Avenue.
Montwood Drive is being designed to connect the missing segment between Shreya Street and Rich Beem. Also of note, improvements are being designed for Ascencion Street, from Kentwood Avenue to Horizon Boulevard.
Lastly, the extension of Bob Hope Drive is currently in design to extend from Loop 375 (at the SISD Student Activities Complex) to Mission Ridge Boulevard.
Most of the roadways noted consist of new roadway construction, and their construction will have limited impact on current roadways.
Disclosure: Raymond L. Telles, CRRMA executive director, is a financial supporter of El Paso Matters. Financial supporters play no role in El Paso Matters’ journalism.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Widening of Pellicano Drive remains on hold, no new start date
