Old Iron Bridge construction to be completed by April 2027
The Old Iron Bridge in Bastrop will undergo initial assessment and design by engineering consultant Huitt-Zollars Inc. for $1.13 million. Previous work by the company includes the Margaret Hunt Hill and Margaret McDermott bridges in Dallas. The city reserved $18 million for repainting and repairs of the bridge.
The timeline
Work on the bridge began on March 11. Engineering design is scheduled to be completed in March 2025 followed by the completion of construction in April 2027.
The design plan will include the installation of safety lighting, pedestrian railings and deck amenities. Traffic control and a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan will also be included in the work.
City reduces FM 969 speed limit
The speed limit on the 0.75-mile section of FM 969 located within the city of Bastrop will be reduced from 65 mph to 60 mph. The change follows an April 2023 Texas Department of Transportation traffic investigation recommending the change.
TxDOT will match the reduced limit for the section of roadway outside of city jurisdiction, officials said.
The gist
Safety concerns along the roadway were addressed at the Feb. 13 Bastrop City Council meeting. Council discussed further speed reduction in the future if the change is supported by a traffic study.
Mural to honor Bastropian’s role in desegregation at Minerva Delgado Park
The city of Bastrop commissioned a mural at Minerva Delgado park to honor the civil rights advocate Minerva Delgado Lopez.
The mural will be designed and painted by local artist Curtis Griffin. Griffin plans to use an aerosol application and graffiti protection in the design.
The mural will utilize an anamorphic perspective meant to be viewed from a specific vantage point, and painting is expected to begin in April or May.
The details
Honored as a “Network Weaver” by St. David’s, the foundation awarded council member Cheryl Lee $1,200 toward the Delgado Park mural. The remaining $1,300 balance of the mural cost was donated by Mayor Pro Tem John Kirkland and his family.
Work on historic Bastrop County Courthouse clock tower underway
Restorations on the Bastrop County Courthouse clock tower will be complete in mid-May after work on the project began in November.
By the numbers
Bastrop County received a $250,000 grant from the National Park Service for restorations. The grant was part of the Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, And Maria Emergency Supplemental Historic Preservation Fund.
A closer look
Restoration work includes the repair and replacement of rough carpentry and sheet metal. The clock face and mechanics will be restored. An electric strike for the bell will also be installed.
The Bastrop County Courthouse was built in 1883, and the site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.
City of Bastrop wastewater treatment plant to serve SpaceX in 2026
A joint agreement between the city of Bastrop, SpaceX and Corix Utilities for the treatment of wastewater from the FM 969 and FM 1209 SpaceX properties at the city of Bastrop’s new plant has been approved, according to a March 8 news release from the city. Service to SpaceX will begin in early 2026.
Corix will conduct the transfer of wastewater to the city’s plant.
The gist
Construction of the city’s wastewater treatment plant No. 3 began in August 2021 to accommodate Bastrop’s rapid growth. Despite delays, the plant is expected to begin operating in April.
“Treating wastewater does not happen at a loss,” Carrillo said in a March 8 press release. “It is a profitable enterprise, and serving such a large customer will help keep rates low and the plant operating in tip-top shape for decades to come.”
