Lake Ralph Hall Construction Reaches Another Milestone

Flatiron is proud to be building the bridges at the Lake Ralph Hall Project in North Texas. Another important step in this innovative project has been achieved. This news release was issued by the project owner, the Upper Trinity Regional Water District.

Lewisville, TX (January 17, 2023) – Construction of Lake Ralph Hall in Fannin County reached another major milestone with the final concrete pour for the Merrill Creek bridge, one of two bridges that will span the lake. Lake Ralph Hall is one of the state’s biggest water projects in the last 30 years and will provide up to 54 million gallons of water per day to the communities Upper Trinity Regional Water District (Upper Trinity) serves in Denton and Collin Counties.

“Ever since Lake Ralph Hall was envisioned more than three decades ago, collaboration has been a key component in moving the project forward, from planning and permitting to design and construction,” said Ed Motley, Upper Trinity’s Program Manager for Lake Ralph Hall. “Through our partnership with Flatiron Construction, the road and bridge contractor, we recognize this milestone and look forward to opening both new roadway segments along State Highway 34 between Ladonia and Honey Grove.”

Now that Merrill Creek bridge decking is complete, only the side barriers and asphalt need to be installed. Both the Merrill Creek bridge and the 1.1-mile-long pedestrian-friendly State Highway 34 bridge is scheduled to open to traffic this spring. The new section of FM 1550 to accommodate the lake shoreline is also scheduled to be finished this spring.

“It’s been satisfying to see work on both the Merrill Creek and SH 34 bridges go from basically grassland to nearing completion,” said Project Manager Josh Pfingst with Flatiron Construction. “Today’s final pour of concrete marks a milestone that was achieved safely and on schedule.”

Upper Trinity will soon kick off several additional components of the project, including construction of 32 miles of underground pipeline to transport raw water from the reservoir to its water system. Environmental mitigation will also start in 2023 to restore a portion of the former North Sulphur River below the Leon Hurse Dam, along with several tributaries, to its natural, meandering path.

About the Upper Trinity Regional Water District:

Upper Trinity is a regional water district created by the Texas Legislature in 1989 for the benefit of cities and utilities in the Denton County area. Its mandate is to develop regional plans for water services, and to provide both water and wastewater services on a wholesale basis to cities and utilities within its service area, including all of Denton County and portions of Dallas and Collin Counties. For more information, please contact Jason Pierce, Manager of Government Affairs & Communications at 972-219-1228.

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