Rio Hondo, TX (KRGV) — City officials say a $1 million road project near Rio Hondo Elementary School should be finished by January 2027 after delays pushed the work past the start of the school year.

People who live nearby told Channel 5 News they want their street repaved because drivers are using it as a shortcut while Robert Garza Road remains under construction.

Dropping off kids at Rio Hondo Elementary School has not been easy for Yolanda Vargas. Vargas said the arguments happen during pick-up and drop-off.

“Everybody's cutting over saying bad words at us,” Vargas said, adding that people are taking shortcuts because of the construction.

Rio Hondo Interim City Administrator Julian Longoria said the city planned to finish the road before the school year started, but changes in city hall contributed to the delay.

“The transition that we're currently dealing with — that's why I've been appointed into this position because the position became vacant. We no longer had people that could sign a check because we had two vacancies at the time,” Longoria said.

Construction started on April 6, 2026. A $1 million Texas General Land Office grant funds the project.

Longoria said contractors also ran into equipment issues and unexpected problems underground.

“Specifically with some drainage and some sewage lines, they ran into some water lines they didn't know were there, and they needed to address those things, which delayed the project a bit, increasing the cost,” Longoria said.

The city has spent more than $40,000 on change orders for water line adjustments, storm drains, and sewer tie-ins, Longoria added.

The school district is asking Rio Hondo Elementary parents to use Bates and Reynolds streets to get access to the school while the work continues.

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