Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
DeSoto staff outline $200,000 bridge beautification plan, target seven bridges
Summary
The development services department proposed a bridge beautification program to assess and enhance up to seven bridges using GIS and in‑house staff; staff estimated an initial $200,000 request and suggested $25,000 per bridge as a rough planning figure, with $150,000 available from 2025 capital outlay.
The City of DeSoto presented an informational proposal on Aug. 18 to create a bridge beautification program intended to improve visibility, pedestrian experience and gateway aesthetics.
Ahmed Alkasey, director of development services, said the program is part of the city’s 2025 business plan (goal 16). Staff plan to build a GIS‑based bridge inventory using Texas Department of Transportation data, review inspection reports, apply selection criteria (structural condition, visibility/gateway status, community impact, equity, feasibility and synergy with planned projects) and prequalify a list of candidate bridges.
Alkasey said staff intend to select seven bridges for the initial program and estimated roughly $25,000 per bridge as a planning figure, with an initial requested budget of about $200,000. He said the department can complete initial data collection and criteria development in house, noting potential one‑time savings of about $120,000 compared with hiring a consultant.
Council members praised the proposal as a way to improve community image and equity, and asked about funding. Alkasey said the department has identified approximately $150,000 in capital outlay for 2025 and will seek additional funds in the 2026 budget; staff also said they will explore grant and partnership opportunities for follow‑up structural work identified in inspections.
The item was informational; no formal council action was requested.
What’s next: staff will share a prequalification list of candidate bridges with council and seek council input on decorative features and bridge selection.
