Dear Editor,
A plan was adopted by the county commissioners a few months ago. The purpose was to develop a guide for economic growth and transportation improvements for Blanco County. A group consisting of city administrators from Johnson City and Blanco, both school districts, PEC, CARTS, TxDOT, area businesses, and concerned citizens arrived at a list of 7 low water crossings causing problems during heavy rainfall. The low water crossing on Middle Creek Road was not on the list.
Anyone who has lived in the area long enough knows how devastating the occasional flash flood can be. In May 2007, a family driving across the bridge on Chimney Valley Road was swept into the river. Although first responders were able to save one child, a 6 year old girl lost her life. The same crossing also claimed another life earlier that year. The low water bridge on Chimney Valley Road was not on the list.
The head of transportation for Blanco ISD confirmed the fact that school buses have, and will continue to; travel Chimney Valley Road daily during the school year. No school buses have traveled Middle Creek Road for15 years and no need is projected in the future.
Why change the plan? If safety dictates any change, the safety concerns at the low water crossings on Chimney Valley Road make it a much more likely candidate than Middle Creek Road where there has been no recorded incident during a flood.
We urge anyone to look at the data at www.blancocountyplan.org . Lists of the members of the committee are on pages 71-72. Perhaps we should ask them what they think about the county spending funds on a bridge over the low water crossing on Middle Creek Road. It doesn’t make fiscal sense or a responsible safety choice.
Respectfully,
Pete and Kathy Edquist
Blanco, TX
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