LG Council Hears Bridge Update

La Grange City Council granted final approval Monday night to the plat for the future La Grange Springs apartment complex.

Developers plan to build four two-story buildings on the eight-acre property located at the intersection of US 77 and FM 2145. At the meeting Monday, development consultant Robbie Meyer said the entrance to the property will be located off FM 2145. The buildings will be situated around a common courtyard and clubhouse.

Meyer said builders plan to break ground before Christmas. Council voted unanimously to approve the plat.

In other business, Council discussed the construction work on the new bridge across the Colorado River on Business Highway 71. Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) picked low bidder Angel Brothers Holdings to construct the new bridge at a cost of $13.6 million. Once the new bridge is built, TxDOT plans to refurbish the old bridge. City Manager Shawn Raborn said estimates for that project are around another $13 million. Upon completion, each bridge would be converted to one-way traffic, with the old bridge serving westbound vehicles and the new bridge serving the eastbound side.

Ground work required the removal dozens of crepe myrtles that use to the line the road to the boat ramp and Buffalo Trail Park, along with several large pecan trees and a sycamore close to the river.

“Aesthetically, its vastly different,” Raborn said.

After the meeting, Raborn told the Record he intends to discuss with Council possibly replanting some trees around the bridges once all the construction is finished.

At the meeting, Raborn told the Council he worries about wrecks on the old bridge during construction, which is scheduled to last 18 months.

“Please, everyone, be safe,” Raborn said. “Everyone is looking at what’s going next to the bridge. No one is looking straight ahead.”

Also at Monday’s meeting, Council unanimously reappointed Glen Pape and Diana Stevens as directors of TexGas 1 with terms to expire on August 15, 2027. They also reappointed Violet Zbranek as a director of MuniGas with a term to expire on June 15, 2027. TexGas 1 and MuniGas are natural gas trading corporations sponsored by the City of La Grange.

At the end of the meeting, Council toured La Grange Fire Department’s new fire engine, which arrived last week.

“Its one of those pieces of equipment you hope you never have to use,” Raborn said.