Posted on 12/16/2021 7:37:51 PM PST by BeauBo
State commissioners unanimously approved a design-build contract that will not exceed $162 million for a total of eight miles of border wall that will fill gaps between portions of the federal border wall.
The contract was awarded to Posillico Civil, Inc., a 75-year-old New York-based engineering firm that has worked on other border projects. Commissioners said the first portion of the wall will be constructed on state-owned land in Starr County, with a 1.2-mile extension on private land.
Commissioners said the program manager, Michael Baker Huitt-Zollars Joint Venture, is pursuing agreements with private landowners to allow construction of other portions of the wall.
A specific groundbreaking date for the first segment of the wall has not yet been announced, but during the TFC meeting, a Posillico representative told commissioners the company understands “the importance of getting panels erected by the end of the year, and we’re certainly committed to making that happen.”
(Excerpt) Read more at citizenfreepress.com ...
Texas seems to be moving out smartly, to get construction underway (groundbreaking reportedly in the next two weeks - maybe even at this Saturday's press conference).
This seems to be a really significant effort. They have already identified a billion dollars, and are now showing the ability to quickly execute those funds into action.
These first segments seem wisely chosen, to close some really high traffic routes.
I am impressed.
I can see this becoming a situation. Fedgov steps in, seizes property, demolishes wall. Since it’s Texas, that’s merely chapter 1.
Until then, the Feds will seize nothing.
The plan is to build on State land, or private land, with the permission of the owner.
1.2 miles of this first eight miles worth of segments, will be on private land, and the rest on State land.
This eight miles worth of segments will be filling gaps - joining previously constructed segments, to make for a much larger obstacle.
I’m impressed too.
glad to see power of the people getting things done right that DC has thrown the anchor out on.
appreciate your updates.
I can see Chapters 1 & 2 as you say happening but you left out Chapter 3 which would be the Supreme Court hearing the case of whether the Fed. Govt. can seize state property. My gusss is N. O.
Bttt
What I can say though is that Zachery Group is an absolutely top end engineering and construction company and is headquartered in Texas. I'd be ticked off if they were left off the bidders short list.
Two mega companies that I have a lot of respect for wrt handling large projects on spec, on time and on budget are Zachery and Bechtel. High end quality controls and project management. In addition, they can flat slam resources into a project when required to meet tight timelines. I've worked with both of these companies.
Yeah, makes me curious why not hire local...
One factor in the selection that was mentioned, is that the winning vendor has worked on border projects before.
If their past performance was good, and they were in on the Trump Administration Program, they would have little learning curve/lead time required. Not only lower risk, but they might have their costs dialed in to shave better prices. It was a competitive award.
It seems to me that this Program is on a very fast track (especially for Government) - they probably weighted past performance and readiness to meet schedule very highly.. They brief clip I heard of the winning vendor talking to the Government reps, was all about how the vendor was going to get moving quickly - panels up by the end of the year, in two weeks, including Christmas.
Abbott set to begin 2022 campaign
“Abbott set to begin 2022 campaign”
Whatever gets folks to do the right thing.
So far, I am quite impressed with this effort.
It is a quite expensive and difficult task. This first award of 8 miles worth, is running around $20 million per mile, (which is what the high end Trump-style barrier cost, for 30 foot bollards with cleared observation areas and good patrol road, with embedded sensors). If that is the cost of what they are building, this year’s budget would build about 50 miles worth. Maybe they will ramp up in coming years (which is typical for such Programs).
Every bit makes a big difference locally, but the State needs around 200-300 high priority miles overall, to significantly impede the flow from having easy alternative routes - a four year term of Governor could about do that much essential infrastructure.
Without Federal help, it is going to take years of whack-a-mole to really impede overall traffic. If President Trump was still in office, we would be getting there between this year and next.
Also, a lot of the key terrain is on about a thousand privately owned plots of land, many of whom would not willingly cooperate. Exercising eminent domain to force them to sell is politically painful, and so far, the Texas effort is not taking on unwilling landowners, so there will likely be gaps that are manpower intensive and difficult to police.
There will be no workers alive to accomplish what you project
Ultimately it depends on 9 people; maybe one “swing vote.”
I still say Texas should secede & other states will go with them....
The two firms I mentioned likely could handle the timing, PM and resources on the state's schedule. Just shove $$$ at these high end companies and they can make dirt, concrete and steel sprout wings then fly where they need to go. I have worked with both.
What they do miss on AFAIK is the prior boots on the ground on the border during the Trump Wall construction. Personally, I don't believe the boots thing is that critical but that's the prerogative of the one paying the bill.
Cheers….
If we just leave those private sections open where the owners won’t cooperate, and all the illegals are funneled through them, they may just come around in short order.
Doesn’t it make sense to use the companies that worked on the wall under Trump?
Seems they already have skin in the game.
We need a smart guy to figure out how to repurpose used wind turbine blades into border fencing.
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