On Monday, December 12, the City initiated an emergency closure of the Yorktown Mud Bridge on the 8600 block of Yorktown Boulevard to perform repairs to a sinkhole that resulted from damage to the bridge's riprap embankment. In addition, the project included restoring twenty-two of the fifty-five pilings that support the bridge. City officials initially estimated the project would take approximately 30 days to complete.

At today’s press event, City Manager Peter Zanoni announced that City contractors have provided initial cost estimates that lead City staff to believe repairs are financially reasonable and that the bridge could be reopened for traffic as soon as mid-March 2023.

“We have more information today that is leading us to believe it will not be cost-prohibitive to restore the bridge, so that’s great news for those who use this corridor,” Zanoni said.

Zanoni stated the City has a three-step plan for reopening the Yorktown Mud Bridge. The first step is restoring the embankments along the bridge. This phase is expected to be completed next week. Phase 2 includes addressing the twenty-two pilings. Given the complexity and scale of these repairs, it is expected that this phase will extend the timeline for the project. Finally, Phase 3 includes the planned construction of a replacement bridge that will begin the design, utility and environmental work in 2025, one year earlier than initially planned by TxDOT.

The bridge reconstruction will be funded by TxDOT as part of the Highway Bridge Replacement Program.

Since the project began on December 12, tides and weather have limited the City’s contractors to twelve working days. During that time, the contractor completed the footing, backfilling, and rebar work on the east side of the embankment. The contractor will begin demolition and excavation work on the west side of the embankment this week.

Zanoni said the cost of the repairs will be funded by money obtained from the City’s stormwater fee. “That’s a reminder to the community that having an independent stormwater fee is good because it gives us the financial resources necessary to address stormwater and bridge infrastructure,” Zanoni said.  

For more information, media representatives may contact Senior Public Information Officer Richard Vargas at 361-826-3420 or by email at [email protected].