"Concrete Replaced Metal Over Milam Waterways" by Joy Graham

Concrete Replaced Metal over Milam Waterways

By Joy Graham

Rockdale Reporter - January 24, 2013

Milam County has three major rivers, the Little, Brazos and San Gabriel.

It also has 10 creeks, Brushy, Yegua, Pond, Cedar, Big Elm, Six-Mile, Sandy, Cannonsnap,

Walker and Donahoe.

These waterways support several types and in long past decades varieties of metal bridges

to assist travelers.

Many bridges were erected from the 1890s up to the mid 1900s.

By the mid-1950s, these bridges became incapable of supporting the traffic, and were

replaced with concrete slab structures.

In 2006, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and Milam County agreed upon a

list in 2006 of seven remaining historic bridges that are eligible for National Register.

Those were Faubion/Sugarloaf, Elm Creek, Bryant Station, Worley, Henderson Crossing and

Thorndale Brushy Creek.

Faubion/Sugarloaf was restored by TxDOT in 2006 for foot traffic and replaced by a

concrete slab bridge.

Bryant Station was restored in 2003 for foot traffic with a new concrete slab bridge for

traffic.

Henderson Crossing was removed and relocated to a lot on Mill Street in Rockdale.

Thorndale Brushy Creek Bridge on County Road 440 was relocated to Ledbetter Park in

Cameron,where it was restored and placed over part of a lake.

Brushy Creek Bridge on CR 440 was replaced with a concrete slab structure.

Worley Bridge on CR 428 is currently undergoing preservation and is scheduled to be

completed during 2013 for light restricted traffic.

In the “throw-away” society” of this century, Milam County is making history by restoring

Worley Bridge.

Several bridges have been replaced by concrete slab construction and the old bridges left

in place. McClarren Bridge on CR 227 is now overgrown with weeds and is blocked off to

foot traffic.

Galbreath Crossing Bridge was abandoned, left for foot traffic, then in 1994 the bridge

was moved to the north side of Big Elm Creek and sits on the side of CR 240.

Sheckles Bridge over the San Gabriel on CR 429 was replaced with a concrete slab bridge

and sits waiting along side the road for a home and to be restored.

Metal bridges of Milam County have served a purpose in the past and provide history of

the county for many years to come. maryjoygraham@yahoo.com