Old300Bear said:

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Saw something a good while back about exploring options, but nothing since. I could have missed it, but thought someone on here would know. I thought it was cool especially on game weekends.

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I think Baylor spent the light money on NIL and the new Tiny arena. Guess we're gonna have drive in the dark for a while.

Here you go:

City officials are in the process of reviewing 41 responses to a request for proposals from companies interested in replacing the bridge lights and their control system. The city also finds the specialized equipment and processes required to access the lighting system cumbersome, making maintenance difficult, and wants the process simplified, the request for proposals says.

The city is looking for an experienced lighting vendor to supply the materials, interim Public Works Director Charles Leist said. Parts may be installed by staff or a contractor in the future.
After city engineers review and rank the proposals, public works staff will present the top bids to the city council.

The request from the city specifies the chosen company would deliver all components and designs within 180 calendar days of winning the contract, putting the earliest possible repairs into the middle of next year.
The city council has not yet set aside any money or authorized spending of any amount for the lighting repairs, Leist said.

The city seeks a design at least equal the existing system in terms of number of fixtures, lighting coverage and capabilities, the request for proposals says.

Functional goals for the repairs include increased durability against weather and moisture, improved access and simplified processes for maintenance. The request for proposals also cites overheating of fixtures in the list of problems to be solved. Overall, the city wants a more reliable lighting system.
The request for proposals document describes the wiring of the decorative lighting system as set up in series, meaning a problem in the first few lights or controls would take down an entire string.
In fact, on the northbound bridge an electrical line was cut in the course of other work, which left many of the lights unpowered, Leist said.
"City staff did find an electrical line that was cut and had made that repair," Leist said. "The southbound bridge lights still need further repair."

The request for proposals calls for a parallel wiring design so individual lights and controls can go out and only affect the one light or a few lights.

Love reading opinions on things, specifically government things, that people think are super simple.

Reminds me of the saying…."Nothing is impossible if you don't have to do the work."

Lights are coming back on with about a $750k investment. Early next year.

Dam was re-built with an innovative design (labyrinth weir design) that solved several engineering challenges from the prior dam and is a foundational element of Waco's river access and redevelopment strategies. The upgraded dam dramatically increased the predictability of Lake Brazos, which holds some of Waco's most senior water rights and also allows for downtown to have a reliable lake level.

The dam change is documented in links the below and was also highlighted in a 2009 article of Civil Engineering magazine. https://www.civilengineering-digital.com/civilengineering/jan_2009/MobilePagedArticle.action?articleId=433023#articleId433023

Link to Slide Deck on Dam (including additional stabilization work that has recently occurred):

2019 Presentation: https://www.waco-texas.com/files/sharedassets/public/v/1/departments/city-secretarys-office/documents/council-presentations/ws-2019-881-2019-11-19-lake-brazos-dam-presentation.pdf

2022 Presentation: https://www.waco-texas.com/files/sharedassets/public/v/1/departments/city-secretarys-office/documents/council-presentations/1.-lake-brazos-dam-presentation-for-city-council-8-16-2022_16x9-format-version-2.pdf

Happy the lights are coming back. Wish it was in time for football season.

The last article I read said the lights would be on this spring and we are still waiting.

Waco moves at a snail's pace when it comes to repairs and basic upkeep. I get frustrated with the trash, lack of mowing, the streets are from a 3rd world country, and just the overall lack of just basic beautification of the city. Downtown looks decent, but other highly trafficked areas look horrible.

I wish they would continue to invest in beautifying the city, getting rid of (or assisting with upgrades) to eyesore buildings, etc…

Waco being centrally located truly has potential to grow and be extremely prosperous. Leadership needs to step it up.