The Dayton Enhancement Committee (DEC), which is dedicated to beautifying the City of Dayton, met on Monday night, Aug. 12, at the Dayton Community Center, to celebrate the completion of the Dayton Broncos and Stars Underpass Project at the SH 321 underpass. The project, which aimed to transform the once-dilapidated area into a welcoming gateway to the city, reached its culmination with the installation of the final Bronco sculpture and star plaque last month.
Former Dayton Mayor Caroline Wadzeck, who played a pivotal role in the project alongside the DEC, presided over the meeting alongside City Manager Kim Judge, which was held to acknowledge the donors, city staff, and committee members who contributed to the project’s success.
“If you remember the underpass before this, it had nasty looking walls, the tops of both walls and areas between the rock panels were streaked with black soot and mold, and it was really an embarrassment,” Wadzeck remarked.
She emphasized the need for the transformation, given the thousands of vehicles that pass through the underpass daily.
The project began in 2017 when Wadzeck and others first discussed their vision with a local TxDOT engineer. Despite initial setbacks, including the departure of the engineer in 2019 and prohibitively high bids for cleaning and repainting the walls, the committee persevered. In 2020, they rallied support from key citizens and organizations, which prompted TxDOT to inspect and subsequently repair the wall and sidewalks.
In 2021, following a hazardous material spill, TxDOT was forced to power wash and repaint the walls, bringing the project one step closer to fruition. The final phase of the underpass enhancement involved the addition of Bronco sculptures and star plaques, designed by Kimmy Wood and supported by the Dayton Rotary Club and other generous donors.
The impressive Bronco sculptures, each standing 6.5 feet tall and 9.5 feet long, resemble a herd of stampeding Broncos.
“They are large and extremely awesome,” Wadzeck said with enthusiasm, jokingly adding that she and Susan Simmons assisted with the installation.
The sculptures are designed to last at least 30 years, developing a rusty patina that will enhance their beauty over time.
Eight star plaques, featuring the names of project donors, are securely anchored into the concrete alongside the Bronco sculptures. While the sculptures are built to withstand the elements, Wadzeck recounted an incident in which a Bronco was struck by a vehicle shortly after installation. Fortunately, the sculpture remained undamaged and was promptly reinstalled.
Reflecting on the project, Wadzeck expressed her pride in the transformation.
“I absolutely drive through the underpass every time now that I come to town. I love it,” she said.
DEC committee members recognized for their work on the project were DEC Chairman Susan Simmons, Alan Conner, Cynthia Miller, Betty Tankersley, Tara Hanel, Ken Davis, Tammie Alexander, Kathleen Dwyer and Randel Arnold.
Donors recognized for the generous support were The Youngquist Family of Barbers Hill, Texas, (donors of nine Broncos), Sterling Funeral Home (Chuck and Kimberly Mulkey), Susan Simmons, Dayton Rotary Club (represented by Club President Stephanie Montgomery), River Ranch (represented by one of its owners, Eddie Gray), Precision Lawn, Pace Stancil Funeral Home (represented by Betty Tankersley), Gene and Cindy McDowell, Los Compadres Mexican Restaurant, Juan Carranco State Farm, Drs. John and Jessica Johnson, Frontier Waste Solutions (represented by Terri Woodson), Festus Plumbing (owned by Rodney Cullars and Haley Kelly), Charles Windham family, Bronco Tire Company (owned by David and Daniel Sanchez), Randall and Jackie Brock, Bear Plumbing (owned by Jimmy and Samantha Cullars), Randel and Karen Arnold, and Dr. Luke Chachere and Dr. Lucas Chachere of Chachere Veterinary Clinic.
“The Enhancement Committee and the City of Dayton want to thank you so much for gifting our citizens with these marvelous art installations. Your generous donation and your community collaboration just mean everything to us. You know there’s nothing quite as satisfying as when an idea becomes reality, and this project is now officially complete,” said Wadzeck.
this was a waste of man hours . they are an eye sore and dose not make the under pass look an better.
they look like trash.