TxDOT discounts implosion danger

February 18, 2013, 10:02 pm by Adam Troxtell

TxDOT has determined the deck area at River City Grille will be unsafe for the public during the portion of the demolition of the old US 281 bridge where explosives are planned to be used. At the same time, Chili’s, which sits right next to River City on Lake Marble Falls, is expected to remain unaffected.

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has said only one business faces any possibility of damage from using explosives to demolish the old US 281 bridge, and a public hearing to explain the process and take questions from residents and business owners will not be held.

Lake traffic will have to stay back at least 1,000 feet for "several hours before, during and after the initial blasting operations” said Lower Colorado River Authority spokeswoman Clara Tuma.

TxDOT Public Information Officer Kelli Reyna said vehicle traffic on US 281 will be stopped a half-mile away from both the north and the south ends of the bridge for 10 minutes before and 10 minutes after the detonation takes place, In that time workers will be able to do an inspection to ensure it went according to plan and did not affect the new bridge, Reyna said.

She said TxDOT will coordinate with the City of Marble Falls and get details of what to expect in the demolition to local media prior to the explosion.

For the full story, see Tuesday's Highlander.