Editor,
Taxpayers should be aware that an 80’ clear span bridge is proposed and currently being engineered to replace the low water crossing on Middle Creek Road (CR 410). This bridge proposal is being propelled by Commissioner Paul Granberg based on the argument of a “safety” improvement. This bridge is costing $68,000 just for the engineering work and is estimated between $300,000 and $500,000 in construction cost from our hard earned county revenues.
However, this is a bridge that few of the property owners or organizations along Middle Creek Road want, on a road that does not need more traffic. This addition could encourage 18 wheelers and buses on a narrow, winding, part gravel road designed with insufficient weight limits in mind! This will necessarily lead to more county cost in road improvement/maintenance since it will quickly disintegrate with a usage never intended for it.
Unlike low water crossings on Chimney Valley Road, Country Road 406 and others, there has never been a fatality or even a major issue at this crossing. Since all the residences have another way out, they do not need to cross it.
This proposal makes no sense and certainly it does not pass a “smell” test. There are many low water crossings in Blanco County that could use attention! For $500,000 they could probably all receive substantial improvements. I believe probably every one of these “other” locations services a greater number of taxpayers and offer more “safety issues” to the county residence than Middle Creek road ever could.
Sincerely Yours,
Virginia and Carl Russell
Blanco, Texas 78606
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