By KRWG News
Las Cruces – The United States Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission (USIBWC) has awarded two construction contracts for rehabilitation of the Rio Grande Flood Control Project in El Paso, Texas and Dona Ana County, New Mexico funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
The Recovery Act includes $220 million for USIBWC levee projects.
A contract in the amount of $9.25 million was awarded to Ultimate Concrete, a small business located in El Paso, Texas, to rehabilitate 12 miles of Rio Grande flood control levees between the Borderland Bridge in El Paso and the Rio Grande Power Plant in Sunland Park, New Mexico. Construction is expected to be completed by early 2012. The levees on both sides of the river will be raised as needed and structural improvements will be made.
The USIBWC has awarded a contract in the amount of $13.74 million to another small business, Briston Construction, LLC of Tempe, Arizona, to construct 20 miles of levee improvements along the east side of the Rio Grande between Leasburg Bridge and the Mesilla Dam in New Mexico. The improvements will benefit the communities of Radium Springs, Do a Ana, Las Cruces, and Mesilla. The levee will be raised by two feet and structural improvements will be made to control seepage. Construction is expected to be completed by late 2011.
Both contracts were awarded in accordance with federal rules setting aside certain contracts for qualified small businesses. The levees are being rehabilitated to meet requirements established by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
"The Recovery Act has enabled us to make great progress in rehabilitating our levees," said U.S. Commissioner Edward Drusina. "Once all of the projects are completed, the levees will be in their best shape ever, helping to protect communities from flooding for decades to come."
In addition to the contracts described above, the USIBWC previously awarded Recovery Act contracts for levee work in El Paso, Hudspeth, Hidalgo, and Cameron Counties in Texas and in Do a Ana County, New Mexico. USIBWC expenditure of Recovery Act funds has already created or preserved 578 jobs. The purpose of the Recovery Act is to create and save jobs, promote economic recovery, and invest in infrastructure that will provide long-term economic benefits.
The USIBWC provides regular public updates on its planning and spending of Recovery Act funds at www.recovery.gov and www.state.gov/recovery.