BEAUMONT, Texas — Beaumont City Council conducted a workshop on Tuesday, to discuss a proposed construction project that would extend Dowlen Road, at College Street, to Interstate 10.
This project has been on the city's radar for nearly 15 years.
Councilman Mike Getz, who serves Ward 2, was granted his request for city leaders to discuss moving forward with this project.
"I'm very excited about this," Getz said. "It would allow for a whole lot of growth into the central part of our city, a part that is agricultural primarily."
The project would extend Dowlen Road to Washington Boulevard, then to Walden Road, and eventually to I-10.
According to city documents, the extension of Dowlen Road, to the south of College, is needed to provide an additional north/south corridor in the developing southwest area of the city.
It would extend south from College to Walden Road.
The project will consist of the construction of a concrete curb and gutter roadway and installation of storm sewer lines, inlets, manholes, city utilities and sidewalks. The right-of-way has been donated by property owners adjacent to the corridor.
Three separate sections of the project were showcased on Tuesday:
(1) Dowlen Road to Washington Boulevard ($10 million)
(2) Washington Boulevard to Walden Road ($14 million)
(3) Walden Road to Interstate 10 ($8 million)
City leaders have considered section one and two for years, but Getz added section three recently.
"It only seemed natural, there's nothing that would be more economically beneficial than that I-10/Dowlen intersection there," said Getz.
Despite overwhelming support of this extension, many council members questioned whether this is the right time.
"Right now is not the time to talk about a tax increase right after we're coming out of Imelda," Mayor Becky Ames said. "I'm not saying I'm against the project."
The estimated cost for the project is $32 million and would raise the tax rate three cents if the city borrows the that money.
It would also cost the city roughly $400,000 for the design of the project alone, before a decision can even be made.
Both city leaders and community members feel the priority should lie in drainage right now, given the devastation that took place last month.
"We need to start with streets and drainage of our older areas that need that extra work," said James Eller, who lives in Beaumont. "I mean you can't walk away from the old areas."
Getz believes the city can both maintain the roads they have while also starting this project.
He agrees flooding issues need to be addressed.
"We know now that the areas of Brentwood and Willow Creek can flood during Imelda," said Getz. "So, we want to have flood mitigation as part of this project."
At the end of the workshop, the city decided they'd revisit the topic after Director of Public Works, Dr. Joe Majdalani, had a conversation with DD6 to see what their plans are for the area.
"Anything that we're gonna develop new, we need to do make sure that we do all our homework first and find out what DD6 is planning," said Ames. "Work with them to make sure we don't make it worse than it already is."
The city of Beaumont is in no rush to move forward with the Dowlen Road extension project.
Yet, Getz feels the process should begin to adhere for the growth that the area is already seeing.
"I do think that we do need to get it started because we have so much economic development coming into this area," said Getz. "We need to be ready."
Eller agrees he'd like to see Beaumont expand.
"We need growth, we do need growth for jobs so go ahead and do the expansion as well," said Eller. "Promote the jobs, get the jobs out there and bring in new industry."
He tells 12News the value of the land as it sits, costs $35,000 per year in taxes and would increase to $2 million with development.