Drainage projects complete in Mission

It has been four years since the Mission began tackling a series of drainage issues throughout the city. With most of the seven major projects complete, city management reports significant improvements ahead of the rainy season.

Following a 2020 assessment, the City of Mission identified 72 areas with insufficient drainage. Of those 72 locations, they named seven as high-priority based on the time it took water to drain following heavy rainfall. Those seven areas became seven projects: Stewart A, Esperanza, Gabriel, Glasscock, Tulip, Elm and Leandro. 

At the Feb. 26 Mission City Council workshop, Assistant City Manager J.P. Terrazas reported four of the seven projects as complete, with a fifth not too far behind. 

Project Stewart A, which ran north of Business 83 and south of FM 495, is 100% complete as of December 2023. Esperanza, which is in the vicinity of Inspiration Road, also reached 100% completion in December 2023. Construction on Project Tulip was completed in August 2023. 

Project Gabriel, which Terrazas said was the area with the worst flooding, is at substantial completion, meaning about 90% of the work is done. Only one element remains, which requires special-to-order PVC pipe. Project Manager Arturo Garza III said it should be delivered by the end of February. 

The construction for Project Glasscock is at 70% completion. Garza said they hope to reach substantial completion by the end of March. 

The city has not begun construction for projects Elm and Leandro yet because they are pending funding. However, the construction documents are 100% complete. 

Project Leandro (between FM 495 and Mile 2 near Inspiration Road) is approximately $1.7 million. 

Project Elm is the second phase of Stewart Road and will run south of Crown Point Boulevard. It will cost anywhere from $2.5 million to $4.5 million, depending on if the city decides to include alternates in the construction — a detention pond and the extension of the drainage south of Stewart. However, Terrazas does not believe the extra work is necessary because the basic scope of work will be enough to reduce the issues.

“The bread and butter of this project is to cross Business 83. As you all know, we do have a lift station in that area. So whenever it rains, that sensor sends all our water to the detention pond that we use right there on Business 83. So once the drainage alleviates, that lift station starts pumping south,” he explained. “ So I think that would be the main complex of that project — just doing that crossing. And the rest, I wouldn’t think we need those alternates. But with that, it would be alleviating a lot of the drainage in that area. However, the improvements that we’re doing right now, it helps substantially, tremendously. We’re already seeing them.” 

At the Feb. 12 Mission City Council meeting, resident J.P. Villarreal praised the Stewart Road improvements in a public comment. Villarreal said he lives in the Crown Point subdivision and travels on Stewart daily. 

“I want to give you my compliments for, number one: adopting the project, number two: making sure that in spite of calendar days, weather days and change order provisions, the project was carried forth as originally intended and with very high success,” Villarreal said to the council and city staff. “I hope when we get the next storm, we can realize the benefit of that project and the cost associated with it.”