El Dorado

If you go down Leonhardt and turn right on Weidner (like you're headed to Lowe's) you come to a bridge over a low water crossing.  There is constant traffic.  This is the bridge between El Dorado subdivision and I-35. 

The bridge is narrow, there is no guardrail on one side, and the asphalt drops down to the shoulder due to repaving, which could cause someone to lose control.  The channel under the bridge is 79", deep enough to submerge a car when there's rain.

The sawtooth blocks (short square concrete posts) at the edge of the bridge were missing or damaged from being hit by cars and they were repaired this week.  The missing sawtooth blocks demonstrated the need for a guardrail.  The EDHA and District 10 Council office received an email from Public Works this week agreeing to install a guardrail on the side that has no guardrail. 

On May 11 at 6:30 pm there is a public hearing at the Toolyard because the bridge is scheduled for major renovation (widening and flood gates) starting in November.  I'd like to encourage everyone to attend and see what is planned and ask any questions you have about the current guardrail project, such as when it will be completed.

Please point out the condition of the bridge to your friends and loved ones, especially teenaged drivers.  Tell them to slow down and pay attention or go another way.  It is hard to prevent a drunk or joyrider from going off the bridge, but I'm concerned someone may simply cross the center line or rear-end someone and bump an innocent person off the bridge.   There is little room for error.  I take the bridge outbound from El Dorado (the outbound lane has a guardrail) but I do not take it inbound (no guardrail) if I have passengers or there is water in the channel.   

Here are some pictures of the bridge during wet and dry weather.

http://www.carolc.100megs22.com/Weidner_bridge/after_rain1.JPG

http://www.carolc.100megs22.com/Weidner_bridge/after_rain2.JPG

http://www.carolc.100megs22.com/Weidner_bridge/no_railing1.JPG

http://www.carolc.100megs22.com/Weidner_bridge/Weidner_bridge%20003.JPG

Hooray!  They started laying asphalt this week on the new bridge!!  Should be reopened soon (I hope).

YES, it is open!  Has been for about 5 days now.  Sure is nice to be able to use it again.  In case you are at the intersection with Wurzbach Parkway early in the morning or late at night, you can put your lights on high beam as you approach the signal and it seems to change to a very short green light to get you across before changing back to red.  Don't know if it works during the day.