By JACQI LEYVA-HILL
Special to the PRESS
Long Island Village (LIV) residents continue dealing with muddy roads, construction detours and ongoing infrastructure work as a major water and sewer replacement project moves through the community, with delays and road conditions frustrating many homeowners and visitors.
According to LIV board member Jack Penn of Complete Project Management, the project is being overseen by the Laguna Madre Water District (LMWD), not Long Island Village itself.
“It’s important to note that this is a project of the Laguna Madre Water District, not Long Island Village,” Penn said in a written response to questions from the Port Isabel-South Padre Press. “LIV has no ability to control the contractors, subcontractors, or pace of work.”
Residents recently shared concerns and photos showing muddy, deeply rutted roads and standing water throughout portions of the subdivision, including East and West Clam, Sand Dollar and Conch streets. Residents described difficult driving conditions and ongoing wear and tear on vehicles and golf carts.
“Every street [is] torn up — only one has been paved, Oyster,” resident Margo Crouch said, describing the overall conditions throughout much of the community.
East and West Oyster, East and West Scallop, and the main street Sea Shell are currently paved, according to Penn, though some residents have expressed concerns about the condition of portions of the paving and whether additional work may be needed.
“It’s a double edged sword,” Crouch said. “The infrastructure needs to be replaced, but going through it makes living untenable.”
Crouch said many residents understand the need for infrastructure improvements but feel frustrated by ongoing delays and constantly changing work schedules.
“A lot of residents and visitors feel like the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing with the delays and rough conditions on almost every street,” Crouch said. “We know there’ll be a light at the end of the tunnel — it just seems so far away.”
Penn said the community’s aging infrastructure dates back to the early 1980s, when Long Island Village was originally developed as an RV resort known as Outdoor Resorts.
“It was clear that those old pipes needed to be replaced due to more and more frequent outages,” Penn said. “When the water is going out every other day, and the sewer leaks are ongoing, it’s time to get it done.”
Penn cited several factors contributing to delays, including supply chain issues, weather and added electrical utility work by American Electric Power (AEP).
According to Penn, delivery delays involving sewer pipe materials and stainless steel components for lift stations slowed portions of the project. Rain events also caused temporary work stoppages.
Penn said the addition of AEP electrical line replacement work increased the complexity of the project because electrical lines must be buried deeper and farther away from water and sewer lines under code requirements.
“The practical result of that is that electric demands deeper and wider trenches, and must be done before the sewer and water,” Penn said.
Residents have also voiced concerns about changing schedules and limited notice regarding which streets will be impacted next. Penn said LIV sends weekly update emails to owners but acknowledged construction timelines often shift unexpectedly.
“We understand that it’s hard to get around, it’s dirty, it’s bumpy, our community looks like a mess, and we can’t wait until it’s over,” Penn said. “It’s honestly awful, but it had to be done.”
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