Bridge crews expand work as Lake LBJ drawdown ends

Connie Swinney
Staff Writer

Contractors with the Texas Department of Transportation have picked up the pace in construction of the Ranch-to-market 2900 Bridge as the Lake LBJ refill was completed on Feb. 27.

The eight-week, 4 ft. drawdown assisted lakeside property owners with construction, maintenance, dredging and repairs in the wake of the October flood event.

“Our barges and cranes need the additional water to operate,” TXDOT's Austin District Engineer Terry McCoy said in a statement.

TXDOT is also partnering with the Lower Colorado River Authority to remove debris and damaged pieces of the bridge, which was swept away in the flood.

Although the lake will be re-opened to boat traffic, recreationists are asked to pay attention to an interim navigation protocol.

“An interim boat lane will be established near the 2900 bridge construction to allow local boat traffic to navigate under the new bridge and through the construction zone,” according to a statement by LCRA.

“A no-wake zone near the bridge has been expanded and will be enforced.

“Boaters are encouraged to avoid the area, as work continues to complete the RM 2900 bridge and reopen it to (vehicle) traffic.”

The bridge is expected to be done by the end of April.

“During this time, boaters should take extra caution when moving through the Llano River arm of Lake LBJ, as both divers and debris could be in the water,” LCRA stated.

A drawdown of Lake Marble Falls will continue through March 18.

Find this story and more in the Friday, March 1 issue of The Highlander, the newspaper of record for the Highland Lakes. To offer a comment or a news tip, email connie@highlandernews.com.