VisitWimberley.com has provided a site in which TxDOT can update residents and visitors alike on the ongoing reconstruction of Ranch Road 12 and the replacement of the Cypress Creek Bridge in downtown Wimberley.

RR 12 is the major artery through Wimberley, leading to Dripping Springs to the north, and to San Marcos to the south. The construction is badly needed--it will provide for a continuous left turn lane throughout the limits of the project, as well as replace the 50-year-old Cypress Creek Bridge. Bridge designers in the 1950's would have been hard put to imagine the heavy loads carried by today's super-sized trucks, and the bridge was not designed to carry today's heavierloads.

And, having a center turn lane helps traffic flow so much better when drivers don't have to stop behind everyone who wants to turn left.

This $3.5 million construction contract was awarded to Capital Excavation, a Central Texas company with whom TxDOT has a long and strong relationship.

At this time, there are no signs of construction on RR 12 at all. After a construction contract is awarded, the contractor must get insurance, bonding, and perform many tasks associated with the contract award. Additionally, they have to find and secure a staging and site area for materials, equipment, and personnel.

We anticipate that construction will actually begin some time within the next month. This will involve closing one half of RR12 in order to work on the half that is shut down. One lane of traffic will remain open in each direction.

However, Wimberley residents and business owners are well prepared, and want everyone to know that they intend to go on with their business as usual!

Thanks--Lisa Brundrett, P.E.
Texas Department of Transportation
Austin District

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Originally posted by TxDOT:
Hello All--

VisitWimberley.com has provided a site in which TxDOT can update residents and visitors alike on the ongoing reconstruction of Ranch Road 12 and the replacement of the Cypress Creek Bridge in downtown Wimberley.

RR 12 is the major artery through Wimberley, leading to Dripping Springs to the north, and to San Marcos to the south. The construction is badly needed--it will provide for a continuous left turn lane throughout the limits of the project, as well as replace the 50-year-old Cypress Creek Bridge. Bridge designers in the 1950's would have been hard put to imagine the heavy loads carried by today's super-sized trucks, and the bridge was not designed to carry today's heavierloads.

And, having a center turn lane helps traffic flow so much better when drivers don't have to stop behind everyone who wants to turn left.

This $3.5 million construction contract was awarded to Capital Excavation, a Central Texas company with whom TxDOT has a long and strong relationship.

At this time, there are no signs of construction on RR 12 at all. After a construction contract is awarded, the contractor must get insurance, bonding, and perform many tasks associated with the contract award. Additionally, they have to find and secure a staging and site area for materials, equipment, and personnel.

We anticipate that construction will actually begin some time within the next month. This will involve closing one half of RR12 in order to work on the half that is shut down. One lane of traffic will remain open in each direction.

However, Wimberley residents and business owners are well prepared, and want everyone to know that they intend to go on with their business as usual!

Thanks--Lisa Brundrett, P.E.
Texas Department of Transportation
Austin District

[This message has been edited by TxDOT (edited October 01, 2004).]

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Originally posted by starstruck:
It'll sure be nice when this is finished. I sort of wonder if maybe a gathering of coolies and wheel barrels couldn't have finished it faster.

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I agree it's sometimes unbelievably inconvenient, but TxDOT's best guesstimate at the start of the project was 18 months with no weather or other problems whatsoever. Best case ever would put that into spring of 2006.

I would think the timeline on this has got to be extended by the necessity to work around all-important entrances, driveways and critical routes. So far, that seems to have been handled remarkably well (dust notwithstanding), although I'm not the only one who's driven out Joe Wimberley or another usual route only to find it's a dead end and the only solution is to back up or turn around.

It's all perspective. I'm glad I didn't have to plan this project. Still, I think we'll all be glad, glad, glad when it's done.

Hang in there, Stars...