news

Connie Swinney
Staff Writer

In the aftermath of the October flood event, Marble Falls city officials are “moving forward as originally planned” with accepting bids on the $3 million phase 1A component of a multi-faceted parks improvement plan, ranging from a shoreline retaining wall to mitigate flood damage to new amenities such as a planned man-made beach in Lakeside Park.

City officials hosted a mandatory pre-bid conference Nov. 14 at Lakeside Pavilion to share information with engineers, members of the construction industry and infrastructure representatives who could become involved in projects.

“The city is following our original plan for moving forward with several of our Capital Improvement projects this year,” City Manager Mike Hodge said in a statement.

City staff believes the existing plan coincides with needed fixes and future flooding considerations.

Connie Swinney
Staff Writer

The Texas Department of Transportation opted to re-open Slab Road (Ranch Road 3404) in Kingsland Nov. 13, despite concerns about whether the river-swollen roadway was safe for vehicle traffic.

Following the Oct. 16 Llano River flooding originating from Junction-area stormwater runoff, officials closed the roadway due to swift water and dangerous conditions. The closure changed Llano Independent School District bus routes and prompted commuters to search for detours.

Slab Road is one of two main thoroughfares in the Kingsland community which takes commuters south to Texas 71. The other roadway, Ranch-to-Market 2900, was closed due to flood waters washing away the bridge, at confluence of the Llano River and Lake LBJ. TXDOT has placed reconstruction of a new RM 2900 bridge on a six-month timeline for completion.

Connie Swinney
Staff Writer

Almost a month after the Llano River flood event, residents continue to drive past several piles of post flood trash on state right-of-way along Ranch to Market Road 1431 and RM 2545, considered main thoroughfares within the community.

Both the Texas Department of Transportation and Llano County Commissioners recently contracted with private entities for trash removal.

By Lew K. Cohn
Managing Editor

Capital Excavation Company crews continued Sunday afternoon working on the south side of Ranch to Market Road 2900 to undertake what will be a monumental task — building a new 2900 bridge within 150 days.

From staff reports

Debris and unsafe conditions prompted the Lower Colorado River Authority today to extend the closure of Lake LBJ and Lake Marble Falls for week to 10 days following an assessement of post-flood waterway conditions.

Lake Marble Falls will remain closed until at least Monday, Nov. 12, and Lake LBJ will remain closed until at least Friday, Nov. 16, an LCRA press release stated.

From Staff Reports

Due to motorist complaints, Texas Department of Transportation halted contractor work Nov. 5 on sidewalk improvements from the north end of the U.S. 281 Bridge to Broadway Avenue in Marble Falls.

The work began on Friday, Nov. 2 but was halted that day due to several issues including a vehicle rollover near the south city limits on U.S. 281, traffic congestion possibly connected to weekend travel, a music festival and opening weekend of the rifle season.

As crews started work again in the right-of-way along businesses just north of the bridge, one of the bridge lanes was reduced to a single lane causing backed up traffic as far as the south side of the bridge. TXDOT honored another city request to suspend the construction.

The city of Marble Falls has requested TXDOT consider dispatching night-time crews to do the right-of-way construction work to avoid day-time traffic congestion.

Connie Swinney
Staff Writer

The city of Meadowlakes must uphold the terms of a 99-year contract with the community's Property Owners Association after a judge ruled in favor of the POA's continued lease of city property for an RV and boat storage facility.

The Meadowlakes City Council requested that city staff pursue breaking the lease of the 90-unit facility on nearly two-acres within the city limits.

Special to The Highlander

The Lower Colorado River Authority announced Monday, Nov. 5, it will lower lakes LBJ and Marble Falls for about eight weeks in early 2019 to assist lakeside property owners recovering from recent historic flooding along the Colorado and Llano rivers.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) officials conducted a press conference in Austin Oct. 26, revealing the bridge could be completed as early as April 2019.

Connie Swinney
Staff Writer

Plans take shape to replace the collapsed RR 2900 Bridge in Kingsland, as Texas Department of Transportation coordinate engineering meetings, draft designs and seek an emergency contract to potentially begin the process in December, officials say.

On Oct. 16, flood waters from Junction swept into the Llano River eventually slamming into the Highland Lakes at the mouth of Lake LBJ, washing away the structure.