El Paso County, in collaboration with the Camino Real Regional Mobility Authority (CRRMA), has breached the delays and legal wrangling to finally set the wheels in motion for the troubled Pellicano Drive Widening Project. A news release by El Paso County confirms that Hawk Construction, the contractor selected by the project's surety company, is spearheading the Phase 1 construction from Aircoupe to Loop 375, as reported by KTSM.
The original contractor's descent into bankruptcy had stalled progress, leading to legal disputes and leaving the project in limbo. Currently, the Phase 1 segment has a set completion target for September 2026, which is a vital part of the larger infrastructure upgrade aimed at stretching from Loop 375 to Darrington Rd. Despite the setbacks, the project moves forward, including the necessary clearing of the area, updating traffic control equipment, and beginning the construction of a detention pond near a local school to improve safety and drainage. These details were outlined in a release that El Paso County shared and picked up by multiple outlets.
Officials are backing the project with a financial resolution as per the Interlocal Agreement, permitting the allocation of $6 million in Vehicle Registration Fee (VRF) General Funds to ensure the project's advancement. The construction endeavor, as detailed in a KVIA report, is also focusing on Phase 2, which involves the remaining work from Aircoupe to Darrington Road, with design work anticipated to wrap up by December 2025.
In a move to keep the affected community looped in, CRRMA is distributing postcards to about 2,000 households and businesses within half a mile of the project site, as noted by KVIA. These postcards will contain project updates and a QR code, providing a digital bridge to the CRRMA website for ongoing details. This information echoes through the local media landscape, with outlets like KFOX-TV also highlighting the efforts to keep stakeholders informed amidst the complex challenges that have riddled the project's trajectory.
