Residents must manage during bridge implosion

March 11, 2013, 9:00 pm by Adam Troxtell

Contractors finished removing the concrete deck of the old US 281 bridge Monday, leaving only its steel girders to fall into Lake Marble Falls when an implosion next Sunday morning ends its 77 years as a local icon.

A spokesperson for the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) said traffic and other activity will be restricted in the area prior to the 8 a.m. blast, but the new span should reopen to vehicles within ten to 15 minutes.

Although the agency’s Kelli Reyna said bridge contractor Archer Western initially planned to relocate some residents of an RV park within a few yards of the blast, that idea was scrapped because they are expected be displaced for a short-time rather than overnight.

In addition, River View RV Park Manager Mike Warren, said many of those who were encamped nearest the bridge had already fled the deafening noise and massive concrete dust clouds that characterized the demolition of the deck with heavy equipment.

"They moved out because of the dust,” Warren said. "They just couldn’t handle it. I would assume, in the future, [they will come back.]”

For the full story, see Tuesday's Highlander.