Breckenridge Texan

By Carla McKeown/Breckenridge Texan

Breckenridge and Stephens County are scheduled for additional repairs/road work by the Texas Department of Transportation with two separate projects beginning this week. The projects will include work on the “Mile Long Bridge” over Hubbard Creek Lake (Reservoir) and work on West Walker Street from downtown Breckenridge to the bridge, according to reports.

On Friday, TxDOT  issued a news release stating that a TxDOT contractor “will begin additional repairs (as previously planned) to the US 180 Bridge at Hubbard Creek Reservoir the week of May 6, 2024. Expected duration to complete these repairs is approximately one month, weather permitting.”

According to the news release, traffic is not expected to be affected by the work, since the repairs will be performed and completed on the underside of the bridge, below traffic.

The bridge was closed by TxDOT on Dec. 22, 2023, due to damage to the supports under the bridge. The bridge was reopened on Jan. 7, four days after TxDOT made repairs.

Additionally, TxDOT’s road improvement project on West Walker Street from Rose Avenue to the Hubbard Creek Lake bridge is scheduled to begin Thursday, May 9, according to the City of Breckenridge.

“If you remember, they were initially forecasting March that it could start, but with weather it’s been postponed,” Breckenridge City Manager Cynthia Northrop said at the City Commission meeting on Tuesday, May 7. “So May 9, the end of this week, is when they are looking at starting that project. So it is about a four- to five-month project, weather dependent.”

According to TxDOT’s Project Tracker for Stephens County, the work descriptions include overlay, seal coat, rehabilitation of existing road, and “widen non freeway,” depending on the section of the roadway.

In the City’s Oct. 24, 2023, meeting agenda, the work was described as:

• Rose Street – McAmis Street: Milling 2” and going back with 2” Proposed Hot Mix.
• McAmis Street – Sunset Street: Milling 7” and going back with 7” Proposed Hot Mix.
• Sunset Street – FM 3099: 12” pavement repair in locations that are bad and then these limits will be seal coated during the summer seal coat program.
• FM 3099 – Mile Long Bridge: Milling 2”-7” depending on the location and going back with 2”-7” Proposed Hot Mix.

In preparation for the work, road construction warning signs and reduced speed limits have been put in place for both east- and west-bound traffic. The signs indicate that during the project Walker Street/U.S. Highway 180 West may be reduced to two lanes of traffic. The speed limits have been reduced by 5 to 10 miles per hour along the construction route and are marked with signs. The City Commission approved the reduced speeds at the Oct. 24 meeting.

In addition to starting those two projects, TxDOT is still doing road work on Breckenridge Avenue/U.S. Highway 183 and at the intersection of FM 3099 and Walker Street/U.S. Highway 180 West.

Cutline, top photo: Signs along West Walker Street in Breckenridge indicate reduced speeds for traffic during planned road work. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)