Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Arcosa Aggregates to install temporary private bridge and safety devices on Cut Off Road; county accepts devices for project duration
Summary
Ellis County Commissioners Court approved Arcosa Aggregates' request to install temporary traffic safety devices and to use a private temporary bridge for gravel-truck access from a pit, with Arcosa to pay and maintain the devices. Commissioners emphasized the crossing will remain private and gated and that TxDOT access and county culvert/permit
The Ellis County Commissioners Court voted to allow Arcosa Aggregates to install temporary traffic-safety devices on the Cut Off Road bridge at Smith Creek Tributary and to use a private temporary bridge on adjacent private property for construction and gravel-truck access.
Why it matters: County staff and commissioners said the temporary measures are being approved because Arcosa expects heavy truck traffic from a new gravel pit and the temporary route and safety devices aim to reduce wear and safety impacts on a single-lane county bridge. Arcosa told the court it will pay for and maintain the safety devices and will coordinate access and permitting with county staff and TxDOT.
What was presented and decided - County Engineer Zachary Garrick said Arcosa had obtained permission from the private property owner to build a temporary bridge; the proposed temporary bridge will be used only by Arcosa's trucks and customer vehicles and will be closed to public through-traffic. Garrick introduced Matthew Hallmark from Arcosa to answer technical questions. - Matthew Hallmark (Arcosa representative) confirmed the temporary crossing will be gated and opened for truck traffic during working hours and closed at the end of the day. Arcosa and third-party vendor Dallas Light And Barricade will supply, install and maintain the traffic-control devices, and Arcosa will shoulder all associated costs, the court was told. - Commissioners and staff repeatedly emphasized that the crossing is private, temporary, and not a precedent for other one-lane county bridges; the county will not incur costs for the safety devices or ongoing maintenance of the temporary bridge. - Commissioner Grayson said the company anticipates up to approximately 300 trucks per day during operations; Arcosa confirmed the temporary bridge and safety plan are intended to remain in place for the life of the pit and will be removed or offered to landowners when operations conclude.
Action: The court approved a motion to accept Arcosa's proposal for the temporary bridge and to allow installation of safety devices for the duration of the project. The motion passed unanimously (motion by Commissioner Grayson; second by Commissioner Stinson).
Implementation and conditions The court recorded that Arcosa must: - Coordinate any required culvert or approach permits with county engineers before connecting private property to Cut Off Road. - Continue coordination with TxDOT for permanent access on State Highway 34; Arcosa said discussions with TxDOT are ongoing and that any final access work will be built to TxDOT standards. - Maintain the safety devices and remove or transfer the temporary bridge at the end of operations; no county funds will be used for installation or maintenance.
Ending: Commissioners said the measures were approved because of the unusually high truck volumes expected at the site and to protect county infrastructure while allowing the pit to operate. The court voted unanimously to accept the safety devices and temporary private-bridge plan for the duration of Arcosa's operations.
