Breckenridge Texan

The Texas Department of Transportation has announced a new potential start date for the work on the “Mile-Long Bridge” on U.S. Highway 180 over Hubbard Creek Lake, stating that the work is now scheduled to begin on the last day of this month.

According to a news release from Lisa Tipton, the TxDOT-Brownwood District’s public information officer, TxDOT’s contractor, Structural Integrity Group, will begin cleaning and sealing the joints of the U.S. Highway 180 bridge over Hubbard Creek Reservoir on Sunday, June 30. A previous news release had stated that the work would begin on “approximately Wednesday, June 12.”

In a follow-up email to the Breckenridge Texan, Tipton said the maintenance work has not begun yet because “there were some delays in finalizing paperwork with all the appropriate signatures, as it must be signed by the district engineer, the contractor, and the Construction Division in Austin, each of whom carefully review the documents to make sure that everything is correct before work can begin.”

She also clarified that the latest news release is to let the public know that work will not begin prior to June 30, which at this time is TxDOT’s target date for the project to start.

Crews will perform all work at night, beginning no earlier than 7 p.m., to minimize the impact to traffic, according to the news release. During working hours, traffic will be reduced to one lane and a temporary traffic signal will be in place.

Motorists should expect possible delays during work hours. TxDOT asks drivers to use caution when driving through the work zone, obey warning and speed limit signs, avoid distractions, and watch for crews and equipment in and near the work zone.

The work will be preventative maintenance project to extend the life of the structure. Work schedule is weather permitting.