Flooding concerns persist for residents in Old East Dallas neighborhood

The useful part

Residents in a historic Old East Dallas neighborhood say the prospect of persistent rain keeps them on edge. Additionally, a major project meant to provide relief to the area has been delayed several years. The forecast over the next few days has Delores Lopez and her family a bit nervous.

How it works

• She shared photos taken in June showing her front yard submerged in water.
• "It's been a very scary experience." For 27 years, she's lived on Alcalde Street in the Old East Dallas historic Peak's Addition neighborhood.
• Based on experience, the prospect of rain means hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst.
• "It [the water] went all the way inside our house and moved all of our furniture around, and we lost our vehicles," she said.
• Tunnel project, a 5-mile drainage tunnel that sits 75 to 150 feet underground, was expected to be done by 2024.

What to take from it

Long-awaited flood relief is taking years longer than expected. Some residents in the Peak's Addition neighborhood live near one of the intake shafts along Victor Street. A memo sent to the city's Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in January cited delayed parts for the tunnel boring machine, permitting changes affecting concrete production, and COVID-19 supply chain disruptions.

Details worth keeping

When it starts raining, she starts getting panicked," said Lopez. Project is under construction and is approximately 87% complete. The excavation was completed in the summer of 2022.