Hidalgo County releases review of timeline during courthouse construction

Edinburg, Texas, August 11, 2023 – Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez’s office today released an updated time line for the ongoing construction and remediation efforts at the new Hidalgo County Courthouse.

“In an effort to provide the public with the latest information on the Hidalgo County Courthouse project, Hidalgo County is providing a list of events that have transpired over the last two years,” the Judge’s office said in a press release issued this morning.

In 2018, Hidalgo County hired Morganti Texas to build the seven-story, 344,000-square-foot building designed to accommodate 31 courtrooms; the Hidalgo County Bar Association; a central utility plant; a security screening area; parking spaces; approximately a 700-person temporary detention center for inmate defendants; and District and County clerks’ offices.

Jacobs Engineering was hired as the project manager to protect the interests of Hidalgo County.  A project manager’s role is to be the Owner’s representative, and in this case, oversee the courthouse project and its respective superintendent(s) from conception to the finished structure, as well as communicate with both the construction professionals and the client, Hidalgo County. 

According to Judge’s office, “Despite the pandemic, construction of the courthouse was initially on budget and within the time limit allotted by contract to complete the project.  However, in December of 2021, when the project was approximately 85 percent complete, the contractor Morganti requested additional time and committed to reaching substantial completion of the project by May 2022.” 

Despite the additional time, Morganti failed to reach substantial completion and requested yet another extension until August 2022.  Hidalgo County agreed to the prior extensions, but progress on the project had become dramatically slower, with increased challenges in dealings with Morganti from May 2022.  Morganti did not reach substantial completion in August, and they sent another request for an extension until October 2022, which the County contested.   

“As a consequence of exterior envelope and several other system testing failures in November 2022, Hidalgo County hired an independent engineering firm to look into concerns regarding construction issues that are related to the exterior envelope of the current structure,” the press release noted. 

That firm has provided an assessment report that has identified construction issues in the exterior envelope of the courthouse that must be addressed. According to the Judge’s office, the interior of the courthouse is closer to completion, but Morganti continues to fail the County and has essentially stopped working on the project. In addition, the County is disputing Morganti’s billings, which the County contends are in violation of express provisions in the contract. 

The County of Hidalgo continues to assess the condition of the building in order to take additional appropriate and necessary actions to complete the New Courthouse project. That includes looking at any and all available remedies under the law and the current contract. 

“This is one of the largest and most needed projects in the County,” said Hidalgo County Judge Richard F. Cortez. “Unfortunately, overcoming hurdles is common with these types of projects. We will push forward and clear the path to complete this project, and we appreciate everyone’s understanding and patience. We will get to the finish line.”