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Commission rules against Marble Falls’ old Third Street bridge

BURNET — Should it stay or should it go? 

It should go. 

That was the verdict reached by the Burnet County Historical Commission regarding whether the 70-year old bridge in Marble Falls at Third Street and Whitman Branch should remain intact or face demolition for renovation.

The commission made the decision during their meeting at the Herman Brown Free Library, 100 E. Washington St. 

“We had a number of Marble Falls citizens and the Marble Falls assistant city manager (Ralph Hendricks) at the meeting,” said Carol Goble, the commission chairwoman. 

“They agreed the best solution would be to replace the bridge, and that is how we ruled,” Goble added. 

Built in 1938 during the latter days of the Great Depression, the old bridge was significantly damaged when it was swamped by the June 2007 flood and is still closed to vehicles. 

As it stands now, the structure fails to meet state standards for historical significance, according to an inventory of state historic bridges conducted by the Texas Department of Transportation and the Texas Historical Commission. 

The National Register of Historic Places has indicated it will not list the bridge, TxDOT officials said. 

Earlier this month, TxDOT coordinator Michael Walker told Goble the department would move forward with its plans to replace the bridge, unless the commission declared the structure as historically significant. 

raymond@thepicayune.com