Bridge Kudos

Hats off to TxDOT, Wheels and Feet

 

The new Loop 163 bridge is wonderful. The Texas Department of Transportation is to be cheered and applauded.

So are the volunteers with the Wheels and Feet Task Force, the grassroots group that has promoted the creation of hike-and-bike trails in Blanco County. You did good, people.

It wasn't easy, getting a final plan approved. In the beginning, engineers with highway department planned to replace the old, low bridge across the Blanco River with a standard state structure. After seeing the blueprints, which included no sidewalks, task force members disagreed.

They wanted something more in keeping with Blanco's small-town atmosphere, one that would allow people to cross the river on foot or bike. So TxDOT's area engineer Lowell Choate came up with a design that included one sidewalk.

No, task force folks said, we want TWO sidewalks for people.

So Choate, ever patient and polite, went back to his supervisors and his drawing board. End result: Blanco would have a new bridge, complete with walkways on both sides.

The numerous meetings and negotiations paid off. The bridge is just beautiful.

District engineer Bill Garbade was one of several TxDOT officials who attended Saturday's ceremonies. So did Choate and his replacement, Terry McCoy.

"Enjoy your bridge," Garbade later told the Blanco County News. "Those are your gasoline taxes at work. Every time you fill up, 30 cents per gallon goes toward road work."

So in a way, we all helped get the bridge built. But the biggest credit goes to TxDOT and our local Wheels and Feet volunteers.

You all did good.

Sure is good to have our bridge back.