Williamson County Officials Celebrate Bridge Completion

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TX —County officials are scheduled to celebrate the completion of the San Gabriel Ranch Road Bridge over Lackey Creek near Liberty Hill with a ribbon cutting ceremony next week.

The project included construction of a new bridge with guardrails over Lackey Creek, a sidewalk to allow pedestrians to safely cross on the bridge, and repair of the roadway on both sides of the bridge. Project improvements included a 143-foot-long bridge with two 12-foot lanes and 2-foot shoulders. The project was completed for an approximate cost of $2.1 Million, which included design, right-of-way acquisition, engineering, construction and safety testing.

The design engineer for the project was Freese & Nichols, and the contractor was A Greater Austin Development Company.

The project has its origins during the Memorial Day flooding of 2015, when significant erosion occurred under San Gabriel Ranch Road. Officials determined the dam under the roadway presented a safety concern for motorists and school buses that used the crossing — an assessment confirmed by a structural analysis of the dam.

After evaluating options and public meetings, county engineers determined the best option to reopen the roadway was to build a bridge and remove the dam, officials explained in a press advisory. The bridge option also elevated the roadway and helped alleviate flooding, officials added, which historically had created high water road closures.

The ribbon-cutting to celebrate bridge completion is scheduled on Tuesday, March 17, at 2 p.m. on the north side of the bridge on San Gabriel Ranch Road. Directions: Take CR 200, turn right on Blessing Ranch Road, turn left on Hidden Bear and then Right on Remuda Drive.

Williamson County Commissioner, Precinct 2 Cynthia P. Long is scheduled to officiate the ceremony.