Burnet greenlights street and waterline work on growing east side
Well-traveled Wood Street is high on the city of Burnet’s list for improvements. Work should begin soon on a portion of the street between FM 963 and Texas 29. Staff photo by Dakota Morrissiey
The city of Burnet recently approved millions of dollars in infrastructure upgrades to accommodate future growth, including improvements to a high-priority street and a major waterline expansion on the east side.
Projects totaling around $1.5 million should begin soon on about two-thirds of a mile of Wood Street between FM 963 and Texas 29 and a quarter-mile of Northington Street between South Rhomberg and South Hill.
According to City Manager David Vaughn, Wood Street has been high on the city’s list of priorities for years.
“Wood Street is a very, highly traveled street to cut through between (FM) 963 and (Texas) 29,” Vaughn told DailyTrib.com. “This is one that has been on the radar and the to-do list for way too long, but it is more complicated on the engineering side and school scheduling.”
Vaughn was referring to how Burnet Consolidated Independent School District transportation yards run along Wood Street, requiring consistent in-and-out access for buses during the school year and making heavy road work challenging. If everything goes according to plan, the project should be completed by the early fall.
Northington Street was also targeted due to its close proximity to Wallace Riddell Park and for being generally “substandard,” in the words of the city manager.
The contract for the improvements was awarded to Gage and Cade Construction following a competitive May 9 bidding process among five applicants.
WATERLINE WORK
Also starting soon is the installation of a 16-inch waterline along Wofford Drive to serve as a primary artery between the established water system of central Burnet and the eastern part of the city.
The new line will help the city keep up with growth on the east side, Vaughn said.
“We’re working really hard to protect what people love about Burnet and preparing for the growth that is coming, and it’s about how we balance that,” he said.
The $755,976 project is being paid for with a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant from the Texas Department of Agriculture along with $255,976 in matching funds from the city.