2nd phase of Landreth bridge repair begins

By Sam Waller

The second phase of repair work on the Landreth Dam bridge has begun, closing the bridge to vehicle traffic for the duration.

Shackelford County Precinct 2 commissioner Ace Reames said work began Monday, March 14. The project is expected to take eight working days, according to a release from the Texas Department of Transportation Abilene District office.

“I haven’t been there to see what the contractor’s doing this week,” Reames said. “I know they closed the bridge Monday, and they were there working Tuesday morning.”

The bridge across Hubbard Creek on FM 601 was originally damaged in November when an excavator collided with the crossbeams of each portal.

Further damage was sustained in January when a motorist went through a barricade and struck a piece of equipment, pushing into the concrete railing.

The bridge was reopened to vehicle traffic on Jan. 25 after temporary repairs were made.

The second round of repairs was to have started Feb. 21, but the project was delayed by winter storms that hit the area.

Reames said access to Albany from the southeastern part of the county is available via an unpaved county road.

“People can cut through the county road off of FM 576 without having to go all the way to Moran,” he said. "There are signs on that show the detour.”

The Landreth Dam bridge is considered historic as the lone truss bridge still open to vehicle traffic in the TxDOT system.