Breckenridge Texan

The Stephens County Sheriff’s Office and the Office of Emergency Management are implementing plans in response to the temporary closure of the Hubbard Creek Lake Bridge on U.S. Highway 180 by the Texas Department of Transportation next week.

According to a news release from TxDOT last week, the bridge, known locally as the “Mile-Long Bridge,” will be closed to through traffic from Monday, April 27, through about Friday, May 1, for maintenance.

A crew is installing 77 signs around the area, showing the detour that drivers need to take next week when the bridge on U.S. Highway 180 over Hubbard Creek Reservoir is closed by the Texas Department of Transportation for maintenance. They expect to have the signs installed within a couple of days. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

Stephens County is coordinating with the City of Breckenridge, Breckenridge police and fire departments, Breckenridge Independent School District, Hubbard Creek  Volunteer Fire Department, Sacred Cross EMS, Texas Department of Public Safety and Shackelford County to ensure public safety and minimize disruptions during the  closure.

TxDOT is in the process of installing warning signs and marking designated detour routes.

To maintain emergency response coverage, fire and law enforcement personnel will be staged on the west side of the bridge, according to a news release from David Leonard, the emergency management coordinator for Stephens County.

Shackelford County EMS will provide medical response on the west side of the bridge, and individuals requiring transport will be taken to Hendrick Medical Center in Abilene.

A reminder message will be sent via HyperReach Notification Program on Sunday, April 26, to those who are signed up to receive messages from the county. Residents who are not currently subscribed to HyperReach can sign up by on the Stephens County website (click here).

The bridge is expected to reopen on Saturday, May 2, Leonard said. Any changes to that schedule will be communicated through the county’s Facebook page and the HyperReach Notification Program.

Detour maps are available below and on the Stephens County website and will be shared on the county’s official Facebook page prior to the closure.

TxDOT advises the following detours:

• Heavy truck traffic to detour through Shackelford and Throckmorton counties on Highways 183 and 283.
• Passenger vehicles and light trucks may use CR 294 to CR 576.

Breckenridge ISD

In addition to the plans being made by Stephens County, Breckenridge Independent School District also will be making temporary adjustments to bus routes to ensure continued service for local students. During the bridge closure, the Bridgeview stop and the 2231 stop will be moved from Route 8 to Route 6. As a result of those changes, families should anticipate that pickup and drop-off times may vary by approximately 10–15 minutes earlier or later than the normal scheduled times.

Additionally, BISD officials said they are committed to ensuring all students have a safe and reliable way to get to school during the upcoming bridge closure. To help coordinate routes and timing, the school district is asking families who are not currently on a bus route but will require bus transportation during the period of the bridge closure to complete BISD’s updated enrollment form by Friday, April 24, at 5 p.m. if possible.

To enroll for transportation, parents/guardians should visit the BISD website at www.breckenridgeisd.org and go to the “Buckaroo” tab. Then, select the “2025-2026 Bus Enrollment Form.” Once the form is submitted, a member of the BISD transportation team will contact you directly to provide specific pick-up and drop-off times.
The school district noted the following:

• Authorized Locations: Per district policy, BISD can only provide transportation to and from the student’s home address, a licensed daycare center, or a grandparent’s home.
• Data Verification: All information submitted on the enrollment form must match the current address on file in Skyward.
• Added Support: Based on enrollment numbers, the district may assign additional monitors to buses starting next week to assist students during the transition.

“We understand that changes like this can create inconvenience, and we appreciate your patience and flexibility as we work through this transition,” BISD Superintendent Prairie Freeman said in a message to students, parents/guardians, and staff. “Our priority remains the safe and efficient transportation of all students. Thank you for your continued support.”

Signs on highways leading into Breckenridge, including State Highway 67, warn drivers of the upcoming bridge closure and detour. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

The Stephens County Office of Emergency Management has posted this map showing a detour from CR 294 to CR 576 that passenger vehicles and light trucks may use during the temporary bridge closure. See the TxDOT route for heavy trucks and wide loads below. (Courtesy of Stephens County)

U.S. Highway 180 Truck Route Detour at Hubbard Creek Reservoir in Stephens County

Cutline, top photo: The bridge on U.S. Highway 180 over Hubbard Creek Reservoir, west of Breckenridge, will be temporarily closed to all traffic for about a week beginning Monday, April 27, for maintenance on the bridge by the Texas Department of Transportation. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

Editor’s note: This article was updated on April 22, 2026, to include bus route information provided by Breckenridge ISD.