Newcastle seeking to repair damaged bridge

The city of Newcastle is looking to repair a worn down bridge that’s impacting some of its citizens’ ability to get to their homes.

Newcastle Mayor Adrian Ontiveroz presented the issue to the Young County Commissioners Court at their meeting Monday, April 22. It’s a small bridge that has been repaired in the past but is, once again, becoming a hazard. The size of the bridge would likely need to be increased in addition to the repairs or improvements made to it.

The bridge is located on Quanah Street in the northwest part of the town and has been deteriorating over time with corrosion from rain and other wear and tear. It’s mainly an issue when the families living on the other side of it haul farm equipment back and forth across it. Ontiveroz brought the issue to the court in hopes of coming up with a plan as to how to address it.

“Our commissioner here had done some work on it, helped us out and repaired it somewhat to get by, but it’s becoming a hazard again,” Ontiveroz said. “It’s becoming an issue now where we feel like with the drainage and everything that it’s time that we try to expand it or do something different. With our budget, we can’t afford all of it: the manpower, the excavator, the material.”

Newcastle has been in contact with the Texas Department of Transportation as to possible solutions. Zach Husen, Graham Area Engineer of TxDOT shared the possibility of using a government program that the county has used in the past for projects like this. It involves the municipality still being responsible for a portion of the project costs with the rest covered by the state.

“The program that we’ve talked about is the same one that we use all the time, that’s the county assistance program. It’s specifically designed to offer surplus materials to counties and municipalities,” Husen said.

Young County Judge Win Graham suggested that Newcastle also look into any grants that might be available for a project of this type. The county has hired grant proposition writers who would be able to help the city of Newcastle apply for any grants, should they find any.

The commissioners took no official action on the possibility of helping with the bridge at this time, but the issue will be readdressed at a future meeting once all sides have had time to come up with a more concrete plan.

Each of the precinct commissioners said they had equipment like excavators and would be willing to help. The final solution will be decided after Newcastle has looked into grants or other means of funding.