Lufkin, Texas – City officials approved a $162,000 emergency repair contract on Tuesday to fix a city sewer main that was unintentionally filled with wet concrete by a Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) contractor. The incident, which began on the night of Oct. 8 near 2704 South John Redditt Drive on State Loop 287, forced the city to tap its emergency repair fund and engage private crews to restore service.
What happened
While drilling a foundation pier for a large roadside illumination and wayfinding sign pole, the TxDOT crew pierced the city’s 8‑inch sewer pipe, set steel rebar, and poured concrete. The result was roughly 390 feet of the active sewer main filled with hardened concrete, causing blockages that affected a nearby apartment complex and a senior living facility.
City response
Albert Duffield Jr., Lufkin’s director of public utilities, described the breach as an “uncommon” utility strike because of the volume of concrete involved. City manager Kevin Gee authorized an emergency contract after determining that the depth of the pipe (about 14 feet) and the proximity of other utilities made in‑house repairs impractical.
Local contractor Iribarren Ink submitted a bid of $162,410 to excavate and replace the damaged line. Crews mobilized, cleared the obstruction, and fully restored normal wastewater service within 48 hours.
Funding and accountability
The Lufkin City Council voted to transfer $162,000 from the emergency repairs fund to cover the contractor’s work. Councilwoman Kim Ogden questioned why the city should pay for damage caused by TxDOT. Gee explained that waiting for an insurance settlement or state reimbursement would have left residents with ongoing sewage backups, so the city had to act immediately.
While the city does not yet have a timeline for reimbursement, it has filed a claim through the Texas Municipal League (TML) Intergovernmental Risk Pool to seek full repayment from the responsible parties. “We’re having our insurance risk pool provider be the one driving the force,” Gee said, emphasizing that the city is pursuing recovery through the appropriate channels.
TxDOT response
In a written statement, a TxDOT spokesperson confirmed the agency is reviewing the incident and will work with the city and contractor to ensure utility locations are properly marked and documented moving forward. The agency pledged to continue monitoring and inspecting the project as work progresses.
Preventing future strikes
City officials reminded property owners and commercial contractors that Texas law requires anyone planning excavation work to contact Texas 811 at least two business days before digging. The free service alerts utility operators to mark underground lines and helps prevent hazardous utility strikes.
Residents experiencing sewer or water service interruptions during normal business hours can report issues online through the city’s website or by calling the Water Utilities Department at 936‑633‑0230. After‑hours emergencies should be reported to the Lufkin Police Department non‑emergency dispatch line.
Original reporting: KLTV 7 Tyler (news) — read the source article.
