The Latest on the I-35 Construction

Friends,

Tuesday afternoon in the weekly TXDot/James Construction meeting, the following schedule was unexpectedly released byGreg Malatek, Austin District Engineer, TxDot:

§Switch the southbound mainlane traffic off of the existing mainlanes and onto the southbound Detour N October 31, 2015

§Open Holiday detours in place for  access to downtown Salado  November 20, 2015

§Open the southbound frontage road from Thomas Arnold Rd. to FM 2268 February 1, 2016

§Open Salado Plaza Dr. to east-west traffic on a new temporary connection March 11, 2016

§Switch the northbound mainlane  traffic off the shared southbound mainlane across to the new northbound mainlane over Salado Plaza                                                   May 9, 2016

That night, this letter was sent to Mike Kilgore, President, James Construction

Mike,

Please accept these comments:

1.  Salado citizens know that there are significant reasons that have caused their unwarranted suffering:  a. Poor management in the first 2 to 2.5 years; b. a lack of concern for Salado and putting all emphasis on Belton, Temple, Jarrell, and Killeen; c. currently not meeting schedules; and d.resources.

2.  Salado citizens express daily that you and TxDoT can do more.  The project is 3.5 miles and more crews and subcontractors can finish the project in a matter of 3 months.  It is understood that there is a small footprint where only so many people can work safely.  However, their are jobs in that footprint where that reasoning does not apply (i.e. the exit by the Municipal building, work on the bridges, the low water bridge by the road behind Johnnies; the 2484 bridge where the deck plates are placed; the exit by CEFCO; clean-up; grass cutting; police control; and the list goes on).  Most are not engineers, Mike, but they have eyes and are very educated.  They know the difference between truth and cover-up.  What is given one week as “this will be completed in 2 or 3 days”  is not done three weeks later.  Put simply:  when trust is broken, it cannot be totally re-built.

3.  If one does not live in Salado, they do not know the intense pain of this period of time.  Citizens are tired of other neighbors and communities saying, “poor, mistreated little Salado.  Too bad.”  They are fed-up watching their friends and neighbors spend their last pennies trying to stay in business.  They are emotionally and mentally exhausted at the excuses, promises, and untruths that have been told them.  If you lived here, Mike, you would feel the same and you would be just as angry.  The truth is at the-end-of-the-day you can get in your car and leave.  They cannot.  The ridicule and lack of respect never goes away.

4.  Hell has no fury like the fury of a scorned Village. You may feel it and see it in a Town Hall meeting.  However, in the end, you will leave and probably say, “Glad this is over.  Let me get out of here. We have done our due diligence; they have no choice but to accept it.  We will do as we please and meet the deadlines, maybe, as we have outlined them.  Of course, there are always the weather, holiday, and management excuses we can use.”

5.  The only weapon the citizens can use is the pen and that weapon is already in the making.  They have had enough.  Politically, this town has strong political arms that reach not only to Austin but to Washington.  They have no fear and can produce documented justification for their remarks and accusations.  Unless there is immediate change, they will flex their political muscle through voice and letters.  They know your pockets are deep, but so is their commitment and resolve to bring this to an end.  All they ask is to finish the project this year.  That is not impossible if James Construction, TXDot, and PSC have the same commitment and resolve.

You see, Mike, your payment for 3.5 miles of road is over 70 million dollars. You are paying late fines for not completing on time.  Do you think Salado will see one dime of that money?  Absolutely not.  All Salado receives are more delays, excuses, broken promises, and a-smile-and-a-wink.    Now do you understand the anger and lack of trust?

Skip

This is the plan:

1.  There will be a Town Hall Meeting 10 November, 6:30 P.M.  TxDot and James Construction will be there to make their presentation.  There will be time for questions, answers, and comments. 

2.  A second letter is being prepared for Federal and State elected leaders for citizens to sign The location for signatures will soon be announced.

3.  A third letter is being sent to General Weber, Executive Director of TxDoT.

I take full responsibility for these actions. I do not like being told one thing and believing it to be the truth, given to citizens to be truth, and then changed in an afternoon meeting with the words, "we have studied this and it is the best we can do at this time, but we will keep trying."

If corrective action is not taken by James Construction and TxDot, the Board of Aldermen/lady will be respectfully asked to begin researching legal action to include damages.

VR/Skip