The wait for the Avenue N bridge is almost over, with the project now expected to be completed by the end of September after more than a year of detours for Marble Falls and Meadowlakes residents. Construction officially began in April 2025.

According to Marble Falls Assistant City Manager Russell Sander, crews are finishing the final stages of construction, including painting the bridge structure, paving the roadway approaches and completing grading beneath the bridge. 

Although the bridge appears nearly finished, it remains closed until all work is complete. Meadowlakes Mayor Garrett Wood said residents have grown frustrated as they continue waiting to use the new crossing.

“The frustrating part about the bridge project is how long it took to start and how long it is taking to finish,” Wood told DailyTrib. 

The project is about more than convenience for Meadowlakes residents. The new bridge replaces the former low-water crossing over Backbone Creek, which was submerged during the October 2018 flood, cutting off access between Meadowlakes and Marble Falls, limiting access for motorists and emergency responders. The elevated crossing is designed to provide a safer, more reliable route during future high-water events.

“It’s an important issue because it causes a major inconvenience for Meadowlakes residents who have been taking the detour for well over a year now, but it’s also a matter of flood safety, which is the whole point in building the bridge to replace the low-water crossing that was previously there,” Wood said. “The entire project has seemingly dragged on much longer than expected.”

Although the project is outside Meadowlakes city limits, the city contributed $57,631.97 toward construction through an interlocal agreement approved in 2021. The contribution helped Marble Falls meet the local match requirement for approximately $3.37 million in grant funding through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program and the Texas Water Development Board.

maci@thepicayune.com