Public hearing on possible Lake Lavon toll bridge to be held on Wednesday, October 7

by Bill Baumbach of The Collin County Observer

The Observer has been following the county's progress towards constructing a controversial bridge over Lake Lavon that will connect Lucas to the eastern shore of the lake and will, if built, provide a route via an expanded Parker Road from Plano to the eastern Outer Loop.

As is also true with the entire Outer Loop project, county officials have no idea how to pay for the bridge -- they assume it will have to be a toll road, probably constructed and operated by a private company in what's known as a Public Private Partnership (PPP). Meanwhile however, the county is speculating with $376,000 in bond and reserve funds to finance the engineering studies needed before the bridge and connecting roads can be built.

Opposition to the bridge is already being organized, with a group called "Save Lavon Lake" organizing homeowners and sailing enthusiasts who want to preserve the rural feel of the area. Also, the anti-toll group TURF (Texans United for Reform and Freedom) have stated their opposition to the toll bridge in an email sent out last week.

All sides of the debate will have a chance to be heard this Wednesday, when the county and its engineering firm (HNTB) hold a public hearing in Wylie on the proposed "preferred right of way" (preferred route) for the bridge and connecting roads.

The county toll bridge public hearing is scheduled to be held on Wednesday, October 7 at 6:30 p.m. at the Wylie Municipal Building, 2000 Highway 78 North in Wylie.