Bell Street Reconstruction Underground and On Track

SAN ANGELO, TX — The much anticipated and sometimes delayed reconstruction of San Angelo's worst street is underway and on schedule. Some of it has been visible to motorists traveling down the street's northern end.

Shane Kelton, Operations Director for the City, who is overseeing the Bell St. rehabilitation, said construction is on schedule and progressing as planned.

“What you are seeing right now are crews replacing sewer and underground infrastructure north of Houston Harte (the loop),” Kelton said. Part of the specifications was to bore a hole and install piping for a water main underneath the loop there, Kelton said. That is complete.

Thursday morning, crews had Beacon St. closed at Bell St. as they worked on the underground water and sewer lines.  

Reece Albert road construction crews will soon descend on the portion of Bell St. north of the expressway. At that time, the utilities crews will begin working on underground infrastructure from Rio Concho Dr. north to the Houston Harte.

Reconstruction of Bell St. began on June 18.  The $22 million project – $12 million of which is related to water and sewer lines – is expected to be completed in late 2022. When finished, Bell Street will have been rebuilt from Rio Concho Drive to the Old Ballinger Highway.

Construction signs are up on at Bell St. at the Old Ballinger Highway and on Bell St. at the bridge over the Concho River.  The replacement of underground utility lines will be followed by a complete reconstruction of Bell Street. Because of the amount of heavy traffic, including school buses, garbage trucks and dump trucks, that use the roadway, its asphalt surface will be replaced with concrete, which is more durable.

The Bell Street project is part of a 10-year, $80 million commitment to improve some of San Angelo’s worst streets. To date, Martin Luther King Drive has been rebuilt, a portion of Southland Boulevard has been widened, and College Hills Boulevard has been repaved from Loop 306 to Valleyview Boulevard.