SULLIVAN CITY – One of the busiest roads in Sullivan City is getting a makeover.

El Pinto Road connects many residents north of Sullivan City to the rest of the Rio Grande Valley and leads directly to Rosendo Benavides Elementary.

Unfortunately for many, the road is known for busted pipes and caving under the weight of heavy vehicles.

Orlando Leal owns a business on the El Pinto Road.

"It's about time they fix the road," said Leal. "We've had lots of problems in the past."

Leal opened his shop about three years ago.

"The road has impacted my business," said Leal. "Most motorists have to find a different road to get through."

He tells CHANNEL 5 NEWS it's been this way for years. Residents often expect car damage and delays.

"One time a bus got stuck in the mud after the road got flooded," said Leal.

Sullivan City Mayor Lionel Garcia confirmed Leal's account.

"We had a school bus that actually caved in about a month and half ago I would say," said Garcia. "Thank God everything came out safe."

Last week, the city started reconstructing the road from the bottom up. City officials are teaming up with Agua Special Utility District and Hidalgo County Pct. 3 to make it happen.

Garcia tells us the water lines beneath the surface were the main source of the problem.

"Water lines run through there," said Garcia. "The weight of the vehicles that were running north and south on El Pinto Road were crushing those lines."

For years, vehicles put pressure on the water lines underneath the asphalt. The pipes would burst and moisture beneath the surface would cause the road to cave in.

The city is reconstructing the foundation of the project. Agua SUD is contributing $134,000 to get it done. Their crews will reroute the water lines that used to run under the road.

Hidalgo County Pct. 3 will pave the road. Some of the county's unincorporated residents rely on the roadway to get around.

"We have residents from the county of Hidalgo who live just north of us," said Garcia. "And they have to use this as their only way out. So they have to go through here."

Garcia says the project could be complete as soon as May.