The ditch west of McGee-Autrey has been completed.  If you go west on Primera Road past Stuart Place Road, the ditch is just north of where Primera Road crosses the railroad tracks.  Primera will have to put a pipe under Primera Road and increase the size of the pipe under the railroad. I will update here when I get a schedule for the installation of these pipes.  This ditch will carry the water from the west of McGee-Autrey to the north.  Before, much of this water flowed into Autrey Drive and through our subdivision.  This should reduce the water that accumulates where Autrey Drive turns to the south when we have several inches of rain.  For photo of this ditch, click the link below.

Primera Road is scheduled to be widened just like loop 499.  The right-of-away has been secured and the bids are scheduled for August 2009.  TexDOT will have to come up with the money and at the present there is no scheduled time for completion.  Besides replacing a 1923 road with a nice wide beautiful road, the construction of this road will have a significant impact on the drainage of McGee-Autrey.  Wide boxes will take water under the New Primera Road.  A significant storm drain will be installed under the road.  Currently, the water must flow in an open ditch with many road crossing.  The pipes under these crossing slow the water and are also prone to have obstructions.

There are four projects to take water to the east side of Highway 77. (see the April update)  The first project will install 3  10’X10’ boxes under Highway 77.  The second project will install boxes under Business 77.  The third will install boxes under Hand Road.  The fourth will be a ditch from Hand Road to the Young lateral at Rio Rancho Road.  Currently, all of the water flows from the north of Primera into the Hand lateral as does the water from Primera.  All of this water then flows south by the railroad  tracks where it meets up with the water from Palm Valley.  When the four projects are completed, the water from Primera and north of Primera will flow into the big ditch to the north. 

It will take some time before all of the improvements are completed to make sure we do not have a repeat of Dolly.  Progress is being made despite the shortage of money and the red tape these projects have to endure.  Stay tuned for updates.