The gateway towers that greet drivers entering and exiting Colleyville were completed Sept. 11 — nearly two years after city officials expected the project to be finished.

Contractor C. Green Scaping initially agreed to finish the $8.3 million project in November 2022. However, the company faced several months of delays and faced a fine of $3,000 per day after the deadline was missed.

City officials started with a $1,500 daily fine for 60 days starting Nov. 1, 2022. The penalty increased to $3,000 after Dec. 31, 2022. As of Aug. 26, Colleyville was owed $1.9 million, according to Assistant City Manager Mark Wood.

The contractors were working on the glass and some punch list items,” Wood said.

“There’s an element that goes inside the glass top of the tower that surrounds the light mechanism to help diffuse the light,” Wood said. 

The project is the final phase of a beautification of Texas Highway 26, with early phases installing decorative light poles and planting trees in medians of the six-lane roadway and also funded through revenue from Colleyville’s tax increment financing district.

“Although it has been delayed, it adds a beauty to our corridor that we’re looking forward to,” Wood said. “We think that our residents and business owners alike will benefit from the unique nature of our corridor and the enhancements we’ve made to it.”

Christopher Neal, a lawyer representing C. Green Scaping, the construction company working on the project, told the Report that the construction delay occurred for many reasons. One reason for the delay was due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced some industries to slow down production, including concrete companies.

“There was a supply chain problem,” Neal said. “The concrete companies were limiting the amount of concrete that would be sold. You had to give them an extended notice period as to when you need to concrete.”

Another element in the delay was the material used on the tower, Neal said. While Neal said the unique limestone rock led to a beautiful product, the specific rock was only available in two quarries in Texas, with the architect approving only one of the quarries to collect the material.

“It’s not like you go down to a rock store and you say, ‘I want that’ and load (it) up in your truck,’” Neal said. “These had to be cut uniquely.”

Neal said because C. Green Scaping had to wait on outside factors, the company requested additional time be added to the contract, but the city declined. The tower was technically complete prior to the light installation, he said. The city did not respond to comments on whether they declined C. Green Scaping’s request for additional time

The towers have drawn mixed opinions from residents and business owners since their introduction in 2021. Colleyville Mayor Bobby Lindamood has championed the towers as a draw for businesses that differentiates the northeast Tarrant County suburb from its neighbors.

“With these attractions, businesses are starting to take notice,” Lindamood told the Report last year. “They see that our taxes are low, and they see that we’re investing into our town. And they love it.”

Mindy McClure, a Colleyville resident for 25 years, said while she doesn’t mind them, the towers are a part of what she calls the city’s “identification problem.” 

“We have a city center with beautiful stucco and tile Mediterranean influence, old-world towers, and now electronic signs advertising boot scooting,” McClure said. “Are we Mediterranean? Are we Old World? Are we Las Vegas with a blinking sign?” 

She said the towers’ construction delay is something the city should learn from for future projects.

“Why is it taking so long?” McClure said. “Obviously it’s not a COVID problem because it’s outdoors. Homes are being built. We don’t have problems with construction, but for some reason, these towers are taking so long and costing so much.” 

Wood said while they have heard some differing opinions on the towers, he feels they serve as a landmark for the city and are beneficial for businesses.

“(Businesses) see the city putting in investment into the infrastructure, and they’ve in turn, enhanced their properties as well, so it’s been a win-win for everybody,” Wood said. 

Kevin Vu is a recent graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and contributor to the Fort Worth Report.