Looking Back - The First Year Building Lake Ralph Hall

It’s been one year since Lake Ralph Hall broke ground in Fannin County, and considerable progress has been made—particularly on bridges, roads and the dam.
 
Flatiron Constructors, the roadway contractor, is building a 1.1-mile pedestrian friendly SH 34 bridge over the North Sulphur River, rerouting a portion of FM 1550, as well as making other road adjustments and closures.
 
“Flatiron continues laying large beams on top of the concrete columns and pouring bridge decking,” said Ed Motley, Lake Ralph Hall Program Manager for Upper Trinity Regional Water District.  
 
“When we started a year ago, it was just grassland,” shared Josh Pfingst, Project Manager for Flatiron. “Within the last year, we’ve finished the entire substructure (or the support portion) of the bridge, which includes the columns and caps. I’ve been really impressed by how much we’ve accomplished.”
 
Pfingst attributes the project’s success to outstanding collaboration with Upper Trinity and other contractors, which has helped them plan the bridge to address potential challenges from the outset and address them effectively during construction.
 
Bridge beams should be in place by July, and the entire road-related project is on schedule for substantial completion next summer.

Construction has also started on the Leon Hurse Dam, an earthen dam that will be approximately 2.3 miles long when finished. About 90% of the dam site is now clear of brush and most of the structures and debris has been removed. Crews from Granite Construction are building up the north and south side embankments. Spillway excavation is nearing completion.

During the last year, Upper Trinity also relocated the popular Ladonia Fossil Park to a new, temporary location on the north side of the river, east of FM 2990. This new park provides fossil hunters with easier access to the riverbed during construction of the reservoir.

The Lake Ralph Hall reservoir is scheduled to begin delivering water by 2026.

Flatiron Helps Feed Fannin

Over the course of a project like Lake Ralph Hall, construction crews get to know more than just the land—they get to know the local people too. Since construction began, workers with road and bridge contractor Flatiron Construction have found meaningful ways to get connected and involved in the community, including at Feeding Fannin. Over the last several months crew members have volunteered at monthly, local food distributions through the North Texas Food Bank.

Thank you Flatiron Construction for making a difference in Fannin County!