Help is here: TxDOT to start debris clean-up Thursday
Published 5:16 pm Wednesday, January 31, 2018
By David Ball
Port Arthur residents should see debris relief starting Thursday in the form of heavy trucks rolling into town.
The city of Port Arthur has entered into a Mutual Aid Agreement with Texas Department of Transportation. TxDOT will commence collection of debris in two designated areas:
- Area 1 — an area in town bordered by Stadium Road on the east, Seventh Street on the north, Ninth Avenue on the west and Lakeshore Drive on the south.
- Area 2 — an area bordered by Jefferson Drive on the east, Griffing Drive on the north, Ninth Avenue on the west and Dryden Road on the south.
All items on the street right of way will be collected with the exception of white goods (appliances), tires and liquids.
TxDOT will each have three crews of three dump trucks. The city currently has two 20-cubic yard trash trucks collecting all of the trash.
The city anticipates receiving two new trash collection trucks within two weeks. They will be put into operation immediately.
Mayor Derrick Freeman said Tuesday there was up to 12 inches of rain in Port Arthur over the weekend with water getting inside some residents’ homes.
“It was devastating for all of us, but we’re looking for solutions,” he said. “We’re working with TxDOT for trucks to pick up everything.”
TxDOT offered to help with Port Arthur’s debris collection shortly after Hurricane and Tropical Storm Harvey. The city declined the offer then, opting to use its private collection contractor.