Breckenridge Texan

By Carla McKeown and Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan

A delayed Texas Department of Transportation project is creating a potentially dangerous situation for Breckenridge pedestrians, and a solution could be weeks away.

The TxDOT project has included a contractor installing sidewalks, improving sidewalks, installing wheelchair ramps at intersections and improving wheelchair ramps at intersections along West Walker Street, aka U.S. Highway 180 West.

The crosswalk signal on the southeast corner of the Harding and Walker streets intersection is accessible only from a small strip of concrete on one side or by stepping across boards and stakes into the construction form, which is sometimes muddy. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

Work on the project apparently has been stopped for at least a couple of weeks, possibly longer – long enough for grass to grow in areas where the concrete forms had been placed. The contractor for the project had been keeping their equipment in the old CVS parking lot, but most of the equipment and supplies have been removed.

While the work has stopped, the wheelchair ramps at the intersection of Harding and Walker streets and several locations on the sidewalks remain blocked by the concrete forms, as well as orange cones, wooden stakes and caution tape. In other places along West Walker Street, there are sections of the sidewalk missing, making it difficult for pedestrians to navigate along the sidewalk.

Prior to the project, the four corners of Harding and Walker streets had easily accessible crosswalk signals, and at least three of the corners had accessible wheelchair ramps.

Now, at that intersection, pedestrians cannot reach the crosswalk signal buttons without stepping into the construction forms on three of the four corners. When it rains, that means stepping in the mud. Typically, that light does not change unless a vehicle pulls up to the intersection on Harding Street or a pedestrian pushes the crosswalk button, so access to the buttons is important to those trying to cross the street on foot.

The Breckenridge Texan contacted TxDOT last week, seeking information about the project. Although a reason for the delay in the project was not provided, TxDOT did offer some information today.

According to Lisa Tipton, Public Information Officer with TxDOT’s Brownwood District, “TxDOT has observed that progress on the project has not proceeded as anticipated and is implementing contract provisions to address project schedule adjustments. The original completion date was anticipated in spring 2026; however, due to these changes, a revised completion timeline is currently being evaluated.”

Additionally, Tipton said the barricades will remain in place until the project is complete.

Although she did not say when the project is expected to be completed, she did say in an email that “(w)ithin the next few weeks, however, TxDOT anticipates backfilling a portion of the shoulder area. This will allow motorists to temporarily utilize the adjacent gutter area to make turns from North Harding Street onto U.S. Highway 180. It is important to note that this cut-out is not located within the main travel lanes of US 180 or on North Harding Street, but rather within the gutter tie-in area of the shoulder where the two roadways connect. Due to the narrow width of North Harding Street, motorists have historically used this space to access US 180.”

The Breckenridge Texan asked several follow-up questions via email but was told that Tipton, the only person authorized to speak to the media about projects in this district, will be out of the office until Tuesday and likely won’t have answers before then.

The crosswalk signal on the northwest side of the intersection of Harding and Walker streets is difficult to reach from any direction. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

The crosswalk signal on the southwest corner of the Harding and Walker intersection is not blocked, but the grass growing in the unfinished construction area indicates the project has been idle for a while. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

The contractor working on TxDOT’s sidewalk project was storing their equipment in the parking lot of the former CVS Pharmacy building. However, since work has stopped, most of the equipment has been removed. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

Cutline, top photo: The northwest corner at Harding and Walker streets is blocked by unfinished construction. Although work on the project has stopped, TxDOT is planning to backfill the shoulder on that corner to make turning from Harding onto Walker easier. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)