New Cow Creek bridge opens early
A truck passes over the new Cow Creek bridge on RR 1431 on Aug. 19. The original bridge was destroyed July 5 during major flooding, and the original estimated completion date for a replacement structure was Sept. 19, but the project was completed a month early. Staff photo by Dakota Morrissiey
The new Cow Creek bridge on RR 1431 opened to traffic Aug. 19, one month ahead of schedule. The original structure was destroyed July 5 during devastating flooding across the Highland Lakes.
The Texas Department of Transportation slashed through the red tape, kicked the rebuild project into overdrive, and replaced the critical connection between Burnet and Travis counties way before its original Sept. 19 completion date.
An emergency construction contract was awarded to Hunter Industries on July 16 after a rapid bidding process, and the project began July 21. Crews literally worked day and night to finish the bridge 31 days early.
Gov. Greg Abbott and a host of state transportation leaders held a ribbon-cutting Tuesday morning, officially opening the bridge to traffic and cutting down on the nearly doubled commute times that many RR 1431 travelers between Marble Falls and Lago Vista endured while the bridge was out.
WATCH: The opening ceremony with Gov. Abbott on Facebook.
So they “cut through the red tape” to get the project done eh? So…why do we need “red tape” in the first place? Eliminate it and let’s get the job, all the jobs, done! Make America what it once was, capable and constructive!
Awesome and incredible work by TXDot!
Unbelievable. This wouldn’t happen in any of the other 5 states I’ve lived in. Proud of TXDOT and the contractors who literally worked day and night to make this happen so quickly. Very appreciative as a nearby resident. Also a wonderful tribute to Malaya Hammond who died after falling into Cow Creek there. This bridge should be memorialized after her as she saved her younger family members from perishing. God bless her family and thank you TXDOT!