The Wichita Avenue street renovation project was a 1,500 foot roadway reconstruction, from South 10^th Street to Main Street.   The reconstruction used full depth reclamation of the existing pavement, a process that rebuilds worn out asphalt pavements by recycling the existing roadway to produce a strong, durable base for a new asphalt surface.

The project also included removing and replacing curb and gutter along the roadway, to better improve drainage in the street.   Additionally, an old asbestos waterline under roadway was replaced with PVC line. Finally, the westbound turn radius at the intersection of the northwest corner of South 10^th Street and Wichita Avenue was increased.  The increase in radius will allow city buses to properly make the right turn from South 10^th Street onto Wichita, a turn they had previously struggled with that often resulted in minor property damage to the adjacent light pole.  The wider than average lane on Wichita created a reduction in lanes for east bound traffic at the intersection.

The McAllen City Commission awarded the contract for $546,038 back on August 24, 2015.  The project was funded with City funds and a partnership with the McAllen Public Utility.  While construction on the project was postponed during the holiday season, construction commenced in early February of this year. Construction and roadway striping was completed before the contract finish date of September 1, 2016, with a final cost of $573,198.50.

“The roadway is a crucial thoroughfare, as it connects motorists traveling to the McAllen International Airport and in and around La Plaza Mall,” said City Manager Roel “Roy” Rodriguez, P.E. “Improving infrastructure around the city that helps to keep people and commerce moving is just one of the many roles of city government.”