The old truss bridge (right) has lanes that are n-feet wide and shoulders that are 1-foot wide, while the old highway (right) also has ti-foot wide lanes and 6-foot-wide shoulders. Both the new bridge and the highway (left) would have 12-foot-wide lanes and 10-foot-wide shoulders. The Texas Department of Transportation has released a video detailing a planned 3-year $30 million-dollar project to build a new bridge and highway over the Neches River at Dam B, thus taking traffic off of the existing 82-year-old bridge. If all goes as planned, TXDOT says the project is expected to begin later this year and reach completion in 2026. The current truss bridge has lanes that are D.-feet wide and shoulders that are i-foot wide, while the existing highway also has 11-foot-wide lanes and 6-foot-wide shoulders. Both the new bridge and the highway would have n-foot-wide lanes and io-foot-wide shoulders. As for the existing truss bridge, it's a landmark in the National Register of Historic Places so TXDOT is mulling its future.
Some of the proposals for the bridge are:
- Rehabilitate for continued use for two-way or one-way traffic
- Convert it into a scenic turnout or a fishing pier
- Convert it into a pedestrian/bicycle facility
- Construct a monument at its existing location
- Move it to a different location and continue to use it for vehicular traffic
TXDOT is asking for feedback from the public. To express your opinion:
- Call TXDOT at 4o9-203-2579
- Email TXDOT at bmtprojects@txdot.gov