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Duncanville outlines new bridge maintenance program after TxDOT inspections; Main Street repair estimated at $138,000
Summary
City staff told the council that recent TxDOT inspection reports prompted a new bridge maintenance program. Two bridges were repaired in‑house; six require contractor work (estimated $50,000) and the Main Street bridge needs an estimated $138,000 repair. Staff said no dedicated bridge budget currently exists.
City staff presented a newly initiated bridge maintenance program to the Duncanville City Council on June 2, saying the work responds to recurring two‑to‑three‑year inspection reports from TxDOT.
"This is the bridge maintenance program that we just initiated," Public Works Director Shiad Muhammed told the council, describing internal inspections and a two‑track approach: repairs in‑house where crews can handle them and contracted work for joint sealing and larger repairs. Staff reported following in‑house work on two bridges — East Cherry and Crocker Hill — and identified six additional contractor projects estimated at about $50,000.
Muhammed said the most serious immediate issue is on the Main Street bridge. "The biggest repairs we could find on the report is associated with the bridge on Main Street," he said, and staff provided an estimate of about $138,000 for the needed concrete work and restoration.
Council members pressed staff on methods and timing. Johnny Marray, the street superintendent, described the defects and the likely concrete repairs, and Muhammed said that a structural engineer would be required to evaluate options before proceeding with contractor work. "If we were to do that we definitely would need an engineer to look at it instead of just doing repairs by a contractor directly," he said.
Council discussion emphasized preventive maintenance and budget constraints. Councilmember Jared Davis urged establishing a long‑term preventive maintenance program and a reliable funding source so the city can act promptly when inspections flag recommendations. "I think it's important to have a preventive maintenance and a repair program and have the necessary funds allocated for that," Davis said.
Staff said the identified near‑term repairs sum to roughly $180,000 when including conservative estimates (the $50,000 contractor package plus the Main Street work) and noted there is currently no dedicated bridge maintenance line in the operating budget. Muhammed said staff will pursue options for funding — reassigning existing street‑maintenance funds, using other city funds, or leveraging contracts — and that once funding is secured the city already has contractors under existing agreements to move quickly.
Next steps: council asked staff to return with funding options, a prioritization and an anticipated schedule; staff said the repairs can proceed rapidly once an appropriation is identified and that a preventive maintenance crew restoration should be considered in upcoming budget planning.
Ending: Council did not vote on an appropriation during the meeting; the presentation was informational and staff committed to follow up with a budget recommendation and timeline for the prioritized repairs.
