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(Archive photo) The Texas Department of Transportation will be performing routine maintenance on the Hubbard Creek Reservoir Bridge with a full closure of the bridge starting Monday, April 27. The maintenance is expected to last one week, but could be shortened depending on weather conditions.
Routine maintenance of the Hubbard Creek Reservoir Bridge that is expected to take one week to complete will require the full shutdown of the bridge starting Monday.
A Texas Department of Transportation contractor will close all lanes of the bridge Monday, April 27 to perform the maintenance.
“If work progresses as planned and weather conditions remain favorable, crews may finish in as little as five days,” TxDOT said in a release. “During the closure, a signed detour route will be established for heavy truck and heavy/wide loads. Local motorists are encouraged to use this route or seek an alternative route.”
TxDOT said a full closure of the bridge was not anticipated, but is necessary for crews to complete the maintenance work.
The detours on both sides will have motorists travel north on either US 183 or US 283 where they will turn left or right and travel down the respective roads to get to their destinations.
“TxDOT encourages drivers to plan ahead, follow posted detour signs, and allow extra travel time during this closure,” TxDOT said in a release. “The public’s patience is appreciated as crews work to complete this routine maintenance as quickly and safely as possible.”
The Stephens County Sheriff’s Office and Office of Emergency Emergency Management are implementing plans in response to the bridge closure from TxDOT.
“Stephens County is coordinating with the city of Breckenridge, Breckenridge police and fire, Breckenridge ISD, Hubbard Creek VFD, Sacred Cross EMS, Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), and Shackleford County to ensure public safety and minimize disruptions during the closure,” Emergency Management Coordinator David Leonard said.
First responders will be staged on the west side of the bridge. Shackelford County EMS will provide medical response on the west side of the bridge and those requiring medical transport will be taken to Hendrick Medical Center in Abilene.
Detour maps will be available on the Stephens County website and shared on the county’s Facebook page prior to the bridge closure.
“A reminder message will be sent via HyperReach Notification Program on Sunday, April 26. Residents who are not currently subscribed to HyperReach can sign up by visiting the Stephens County website and scrolling to the bottom of the homepage,” Leonard said.
The bridge is expected to reopen Saturday, May 2. Any changes to the schedule will be shared on the county’s Facebook page and the HyperReach program.
This work follows routine maintenance on and under the US 180 bridge over the Hubbard Creek Reservoir that began in March and caused single-lane closures.
At the end of 2024, TxDOT conducted an emergency inspection which deemed the bridge unsafe for travel.
The department held closures each night on the bridge during that time in an effort to clean and seal bridge joints as part of continuing maintenance work. The work was being done as preventative maintenance to extend the life of the bridge.
