The Texas Department of Transportation has completed the design for repair of the Bardin Road bridge and will award an emergency contract in early February.

The Bardin Road bridge (over State Highway 360 near the city limits of Arlington and Grand Prairie) was severely damaged by fire last November. Repairs will include replacing beams and the bridge deck.

Repair work, which will begin with the construction of the bridge beams off site, is expected to take approximately four months to complete, TxDOT officials said today. The construction contact includes incentives for early completion as well as penalties for late completion, according to TxDOT.

The next construction update is expected in March.

TxDOT spokesman Val Lopez said the agency apologizes for the inconvenience the closure is causing and appreciates the patience of drivers as the bridge is repaired.

For additional information, call TxDOT's Public Information Office at (817) 370-6630.