Texas Department of Transportation

By Phil Reynolds
Contributing Writer

That new bridge over the Llano River may get a new name if Kingsland community leaders have something to say about it.

From staff Reports

The Texas Department of Transportation will host an open house on improvements to Ranch to Market Road 1431 from Ranch to Market Road 1174 to Bar K Ranch Road this Tuesday, March 5, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Lago Vista Middle School Cafeteria, 8039 Bar K Ranch Road, Lago Vista.

The purpose of the open house is to gather public input on the proposed improvements in Burnet and Travis counties. The public is invited to come and go at their convenience and staff will be available to answer questions.

By Connie Swinney
Staff Writer

In its first fiscal year of operation, the Burnet County Sheriff's Office commercial traffic unit has helped clear the way for safer roadways.

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.

Special to The Highlander

By Connie Swinney
Staff Writer

Burnet County Commissioners on Tuesday, Feb. 12, approved bids for companies to remove, dispose and monitor the process of disposing of large piles of debris, trash and flood-damaged structures collected in the wake of the October 2018 Highland Lakes flood event.

The court chose Texas Disposal Systems (TDS) to remove the piles, stored in a section of Quarry Park, adjacent to Granite Shoals.

“We would like to thank the city of Granite Shoals for being the host of this debris that was collected all along the Highland Lakes,” Burnet County Judge James Oakley said.

On Oct. 16, historic flooding from the Llano River swept down the Colorado River into the Highland Lakes causing massive shoreline flooding in communities including Kingsland, Horseshoe Bay, Granite Shoals and Marble Falls.

By Lew K. Cohn
Managing Editor

Burnet County commissioners expressed their concern Wednesday that reclassification of Texas 29 from US 281 in Burnet west to Ranch Road 2341 would make it harder to fund any future improvements to the highway.

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.