GLO letter shows Galveston pump station project may lose millions if it's not completed on time

GALVESTON, Texas (KTRK) -- The Texas General Land Office believes Galveston may not finish a flood mitigation project on time, and in a letter, has asked the city to consider a scaled proposal.

More than five years ago, the GLO announced Galveston would receive about $55 million for the South Shore Drainage Project. The money would allow the city to improve infrastructure and add a pump station to address flooding in blocks between 61st and 57th, where the city said flooding can occur even when it doesn't rain.

An issue Chris Turner, who lives near 57th Street, knows too well.

"It floods all the time," Turner said. "People drive through it really fast. We already had a couple of cars that ended up getting flooded."

Originally, the GLO said the city was supposed to finish the project by January 2025. However, a spokesperson said the state agency gave the city a two-year extension.

On Tuesday, the city held an informational meeting for neighbors on the project. Ahead of that, ABC13 learned that the GLO senior deputy director sent a letter to city staff expressing concerns about the project.

In the letter, it states, "The GLO acknowledges the critical importance of this project in advancing Galveston's disaster mitigation efforts. However, the current status of the contract and the uncertainty surrounding the achievement of the project pose a significant risk to its successful completion."

Although the city has had access to $55 million, the letter shows Galveston has used only $5 million. The letter also shows the agency is concerned Galveston won't finish the work by the Jan. 31, 2027, deadline.

The letter states, "Given continued messaging about the City's inability to complete the project as defined in the contract performance statement, the GLO requests the City submit a recovery plan detailing how the project will be completed by Jan. 31, 2027. If this is not possible, the City needs to define for the GLO how much of the current scope can be completed so an amended scope and budget can be considered."

The letter also shows the city asked for even more time to complete the work. Last month, the letter showed that Galveston requested an extension until April 2029. The GLO denied it.

Alex Porretto, who's the council member where the project is taking place, learned about the letter from ABC13.

"I'm completely embarrassed for the simple fact that your news station is the first one to break it to a sitting city council member," Porretto said.

Porretto said he was angry to see the project may not meet the deadline, and the city may have to consider a different proposal.

"It has to work for the residents," Porretto said. "There are millions of dollars of damage that storms do, especially from the stormwater inundation from the streets themselves."

A city spokesperson sent ABC13 a statement saying they're working with the GLO to expedite the project and plan to respond to the agency by Friday.