By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
An engineer has been selected and has begun work to design the drainage repairs at Pillar and Rock Streets.
City Manager Bert Cunningham told the council about the selection at the June 24 meeting, less than a week after the intersection of those two streets was closed due to a sinkhole, along with collapsing dirt sidewalls above the creek. This repair is just part of the ongoing drainage problems along this creek that run throughout Bowie west to east causing flooding. Late last year the city spent just under $3 million to making extensive repairs at Mill and Nelson to help solve those flooding problems. With additional water flow down the creek bed, the problems at Rock and Pillar were not unexpected. The heavy March rainfall only washed away dirt around and under the rusted out culverts.
Cunningham and Public Works Director Stony Lowrance have been meeting with prospective engineers to consider plans for the repairs. They have selected Blaine Boswell of Corlett, Probst & Boyd from Wichita Falls. He reportedly has extensive experience with drainage issues. Preliminary estimates indicate the project may run about $1.5 million.

Read the full story in the Thursday edition.

Pictured: The intersection of Rock and Pillar has been closed due to a new sinkhole weakening the street. (Photo by Barbara Green0