BUDA — Structural challenges facing Middle Creek Drive will see improvements early next year. At its Dec. 2 meeting, Buda City Council approved a proposal from D&S Concrete Contractors to begin pavement reconstruction on the street. The project is anticipated to break ground in January 2026, with an estimated completion in September.
Middle Creek Drive, a street in the Whispering Hollow neighborhood that is accessible from Old Black Colony Road, was constructed atop an aquifer. The 2021 Buda Bonds Project website identified “subgrade failures,” causing groundwater to seep into the infrastructure. This has “jeopardized the structural integrity of the pavement, curbs, and sidewalks,” according to the city.
The Middle Creek Rehabilitation Project was designed utilizing funds from the city’s 2021 bond, which was voted on and approved by citizens as part of Prop A, a larger infrastructure package. Since then, the city has collaborated with K Friese + Associates, a civil engineering firm, to collect data on the street’s degradation and develop a recommendation for rehabilitation.
In October of this year, the city opened the bidding floor for contractors to submit reconstruction proposals. D&S Concrete Contractors, a family-owned company from Guadalupe County, was one of three bidding companies. The company submitted a $2.3 million proposal, which received a bidder evaluation score of 94 and was subsequently recommended to council.
D&S’ bid was the lowest of the three and under the amount of available funds by $889,495. According to Austin Messerli, the Capital Improvements Program manager, its proposal took reference from successful streetwork projects in similar cities.
The proposal from D&S addressed the structural failures caused by groundwater seeping into Middle Creek Drive’s subgrade and plans for a full road reconstruction. Plans for the newly installed pavement state that it will be made of a more compact material and new asphalt will be installed. To support the pavement, the proposal includes a geogrid, which will reinforce the soil underneath. This will “reduce the chances of running into utilities,” said Messerli.
The depth of the pavement on top of the geogrid will also be reduced from 19 inches to 13 inches, Messerli clarified. This is designed to prevent water seepage and contamination, as shallower pavements are at reduced risk of coming into contact with groundwater.
A perforated underdrain pipe will be installed beneath sections of Middle Creek Drive to collect and redirect groundwater away from the pavement, curbs and sidewalks. The pipe will also be constructed below the entirety of Wild Wind Cove, an adjacent cul-de-sac.
To improve the drainage design, the proposal includes six temporary construction easements for residents. Aside from these six properties, all curbs, sidewalks and driveways will remain in place.
In response to online discussion from Buda residents, the city previously clarified in a social media post that the pavement between concrete curbs will be fully replaced, but the street itself will not widen. “We did investigate widening the street,” the city noted. However, the imposed cost of this additional construction led the team to incorporate a “non-widening alternative.”
Citizens can expect reconstruction to create traffic delays and single-lane road closures for the duration of the project. However, the city acknowledged the importance of property access and plans for phased construction. Driveways will not be blocked for longer than five days, during which temporary driveways can be constructed upon request.
During deliberation, the council expressed concern regarding the lower-than-expected cost of D&S’ bid and the timeline for construction. Council member Matt Smith is “convinced that when we take the top layer off, it’s going to be a mess.” He anticipated that costs will increase once the project is underway, which could slow down construction. Acknowledging the inconvenience that construction will impose on Middle Creek residents, Smith urged that the city, “can’t still be doing this in two years.”
Mayor Lee Urbanowsky also discussed the importance of a thorough construction plan to reduce hiccups later on. He added, “To say we’re going to start [construction] in January may be a little premature. Don’t rush it.”
James Fort, a concerned citizen, claimed that the city’s history of picking out contractors has not been strong. “You’re gonna open up a can of worms here,” he argued during public comment.
In response to this discussion, city manager Micah Grau stated, “We’re going to try to do what we can to mitigate surprises” and noted the comprehensive construction strategy.
Ultimately, the council moved to authorize the city manager to approve the proposal, with an additional motion to authorize potential change orders up to 25% of the contract amount to allow for cost fluctuation. With no opposition, the vote passed 6-0. Council member Terry Cummings was absent. D&S Concrete Contractors can begin construction next month.
Buda City Council will meet next at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 16.
