BELTON, Texas (KWTX/Gray News) – After initially closing two years ago, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Belton Lake Project Office announced it is permanently closing the Belton Lake Overlook, effective immediately.
The overlook, located on the northwestern side of the Belton Dam, was designed to be a flood risk management mission asset, allowing Army Corps staff access to monitor and maintain the dam.
The location was previously closed in April of 2022 after responding to 25 accidents within three years at the intersection just outside the overlook.
“I made the decision to close that area until those concerns could be addressed because the next accident could be fatal,” Lake Manager Joshua Brown said in 2022.
The parking lot was serving as an overlook and as a “love lock” location to the public, but that’s not the lot’s actual purpose.
According to officials, the parking lot exists on the dam to give engineers a place to park when they need to check high water levels.
The Army Corps of Engineers said safety concerns and coordination with the Texas Department of Transportation led officials to permanently close the area with plans to install guardrail fencing.
Belton Lakeview Park is located on the southern side of the dam and offers a safe, alternative site to view the lake, according to authorities.
Copyright 2024 KWTX via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
BELTON, Texas (KWTX/Gray News) – After initially closing two years ago, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Belton Lake Project Office announced it is permanently closing the Belton Lake Overlook, effective immediately.
The overlook, located on the northwestern side of the Belton Dam, was designed to be a flood risk management mission asset, allowing Army Corps staff access to monitor and maintain the dam.
The location was previously closed in April of 2022 after responding to 25 accidents within three years at the intersection just outside the overlook.
“I made the decision to close that area until those concerns could be addressed because the next accident could be fatal,” Lake Manager Joshua Brown said in 2022.
The parking lot was serving as an overlook and as a “love lock” location to the public, but that’s not the lot’s actual purpose.
According to officials, the parking lot exists on the dam to give engineers a place to park when they need to check high water levels.
The Army Corps of Engineers said safety concerns and coordination with the Texas Department of Transportation led officials to permanently close the area with plans to install guardrail fencing.
Belton Lakeview Park is located on the southern side of the dam and offers a safe, alternative site to view the lake, according to authorities.
Copyright 2024 KWTX via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
