Old highway bridge demolished

As the new comes, so goes the old. The old Highway 8, which began construction in the 1950s over Wright Patman Lake on State Highway 8, was demolished. The demolition was originally scheduled for the 27th but was moved to February 28th. Texas Department of Transportation contractor, Longview Bridge and Road, enforced a safety zone during work so no public access was allowed in the area. It became a necessity because according to TxDOT, The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers required the bridge removal after the new bridge was built. The contractor has been working on its removal since November of last year.

Travelers were encouraged to take an alternate route. According to TxDOT, “Message boards have been placed on SH 8 and near intersections in Maud and Douglassville, alerting drivers to the scheduled closure. Drivers are encouraged to check DriveTexas. org for the latest information.” According to their social media account, steps were taken to make sure even fish were detoured from the closure.

According to one user on Facebook, Amber Singer said that the explosion shook her house. “I didn’t know it was being demolished and it definitely made me jump when my entire house shook!”

The old bridges were replaced by one long structure last July. The new bridge is 44 feet wide, including two 12-foot travel lanes with 10-foot shoulders on each side. The old bridges were 26 feet wide.

In a story from July of last year from Neil Abeles, “The $37.7 million, seven-year project to build the bridge makes it the third bridge here. The two narrower bridges were built in the 1950s.”

Dusty Rudel, project manager for the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), said he is told of one area resident who made use of the early connecting roadway, then the two bridges from the 1950’s until now and the newest bridge today.

“We want it to be of as good service for the public as the one that lasted 60 plus years,” Rudel said The new bridge construction began in May of 2019. The one-long bridge is replacing the two that cross the Sulphur River between Bowie and Cass counties.

A ribbon cutting for its opening was held on July 9. Both Longview Bridge and TxDOT representatives complimented each other for their work together on this project. TxDOT mentioned improved water flow and safety for daily commuters.

Casey Johnson, president of Longview Bridge and Road, said the project presented challenges, one of which was the changing of water levels that could occur on the lake.

“Of the lake changes which occurred several times, the water came above our work bridge, and we would have to pull out our equipment and start again.’

The bridge’s new elevation will help relieve flooding, he said. According to the earlier article from Abeles.