Harlingen city commissioners have approved a list of streets to be included in the 2027 street improvement program.

The program covers about 71 streets across all five city districts. Work is set to begin in October, once crews finish this year's roadwork.

Harlingen City Engineer Roberto Hernandez said the city is keeping costs down by using its own equipment and staff instead of hiring a private company.

"We still have the same budget — approximately $1.5 million — but instead of paying a private company their overhead and their profit, the city bought the machines,” Hernandez said. “We have our personnel within our budget, so we're just buying materials.”

The program is funded through a fee collected on city utility bills.

City officials say streets are not picked at random. They look at traffic counts and road conditions and prioritize streets with problems like potholes and cracking pavement.

The city expects the projects to take about eight to 12 months to complete.