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The Wirtz Dam Road bridge, pictured in the center of the image, will be located downstream of Wirtz Dam. Contributed rendering
Earlier this week, Burnet County Judge James Oakley indicat - ed the Wirtz Dam Road Bridge project is still on the table. "The bridge project should go out for bid this time next year," Oakley told The Highlander March 25.
After construction of the bridge begins, it could take two years to complete the new span, Oakley added. "That is if all goes as planned," he said. Several months ago, state officials signaled to the court that the Texas Department of Transportation would be responsible for more than $2 million of con struction and mainte- nance costs related to the bridge. To be sure, funds from county coffers could be tapped to cover the cost of rightof-way acquisition for the bridge project, pri - marily through 2019 county tax notes. The county has hired the Houston-based Pinna - cle Group to negotiate that essential aspect of the project, Oakley said Monday.
"We are just starting that process," he added. When completed, the bridge will serve as a connection between RR 1431 (near Gran - ite Shoals and Marble Falls) and FM 2147 (near Cottonwood Shores and Horseshoe Bay) officials have said.
As such, local leaders predict the new bridge will help relieve the buildup of traffic congestion in Marble Falls and other nearby areas where population continues to grow.
"The benefit of re - ducing traffic in Marble Falls will be realized without construction costs coming from our local property taxes,” Oakley said several months ago.