CR 341 bridge rebuild a priority

Rebuilding the flood-damaged bridge over Hamilton Creek on Burnet County Road 341 is an “emergency,” according to county leaders, who approved an engineering contract for the project on July 22. The bridge is currently impassable, adding significant miles and minutes to drives into Marble Falls from east of the structure.

The Burnet County Commissioners Court awarded a $54,870 contract to K.C. Engineering on Tuesday to perform the necessary survey and design work to prepare the bridge for construction bids.

“It’s an emergency, so they’re going to jump right on it,” Precinct 3 Commissioner Chad Collier told DailyTrib.com.

The engineering firm will also assess the Burnet County 340 bridge over Hamilton Creek, located northeast of Marble Falls and about a quarter-mile from the CR 341 bridge. The crossing on CR 340, also known as Mormon Mill Road, was damaged in the flood but remains passable.

A schedule for repairs to both bridges will become clearer once K.C. Engineering draws up its plans.

Unable to cross the 341 bridge, travelers on the east bank of Hamilton Creek traveling into Marble Falls proper have a 9-mile route, compared to the 4.5-mile drive using the bridge. CR 341 is a rural artery between Mormon Mill Road and RR 1431.

Both bridges are intact, but their approaches have been damaged. The immediate sections of road on either side of the 341 crossing were washed away in the Fourth of July weekend flood.

Commissioner Collier mentioned the possibility of adding some sort of temporary structure to allow travel over the 341 bridge, but no plan has been worked out.

The CR 341 crossing is not the only bridge east of Marble Falls that officials are working quickly to fix. TxDOT has already started rebuilding the Cow Creek bridge on RR 431 that was completely washed out in the flood. A new one should be finished by Sept. 19, according to officials. 

dakota@thepicayune.com