Webb County leaders recently authorized the solicitation of bids for a roadway improvement project aimed at improving access to and safety at the county’s new public health facility in southern Webb County.
Commissioners approved an item directing the county’s purchasing department to seek competitive bids for the construction of acceleration and deceleration lanes serving the Webb County Public Health Facility along U.S. Highway 83. The project will also use the county engineering department for design and construction oversight.
County officials said the roadway improvements are intended to improve traffic flow and provide safer access for motorists entering and exiting the facility.
Precinct 1 Commissioner Jesse Gonzalez, who has championed the project, said the clinic is expected to serve residents from across southern Webb County, including Rio Bravo and El Cenizo, making roadway safety a priority.
“We are currently already moving into the public health facility,” Gonzalez said. “I want to make sure our constituents that are visiting the clinic are safe.”
Gonzalez said the project will create dedicated turning and merging lanes designed to reduce traffic conflicts on the highway.
“A correct turning lane with queuing space” will allow drivers to safely enter the facility, while an acceleration lane will provide vehicles with sufficient room to merge back into traffic when leaving the clinic, he said.
The commissioner estimated the roadway work could cost between $200,000 and $250,000, though final costs will depend on the bidding process.
The public health facility spans more than 12,000 square feet and is expected to house multiple agencies providing medical and related services to residents in the southern portion of the county.
“I’m more than sure we’re going to be seeing hundreds of patients every single day,” Gonzalez said.
Commissioners also approved a separate item related to traffic safety in Rio Bravo, authorizing a professional services agreement for a speed study on Jacobita Road.
Officials said the study would collect traffic data and evaluate potential traffic-calming measures, including possible speed humps. They noted the work must meet Texas Department of Transportation specifications and could not be completed entirely in-house.
Leaders ultimately approved both items, with funding tied to the county’s Road and Bridge Fund.
The roadway project is tied to the county’s new public health facility in southern Webb County, which earlier this year was the subject of discussions about contractor payments and project-related expenses.
