The Texas Department of Transportation is taking the first step toward the construction of a new $50 million four-lane bridge between Seven Points and Gun Barrel City. TxDot committed to spending $2 million on an environmental impact study in 2014 on the bridge after a meeting State Representatives Lance Gooden and Jim Pitts arranged between the agency and a delegation of local elected officials and business leaders, according to a statement by Cedar Creek Lake Area Chamber of Commerce President Jo Ann Hanstrom. Hanstrom led the delegation to Austin for the meeting Feb. 27. The completion of a new bridge would still take several years to complete if the results of the impact study indicate construction should proceed. The agency made the decision after hearing a presentation by the delegation's spokesperson Scott Six, of Star Lite Custom Homes, who is a former member of the chamber's board of directors and longtime member. Six said the agency's positive response gratified him. Discussion about the need for a bigger bridge reportedly has gone on for at least a decade. "We're very encouraged by the news that the EIS funds have been committed, and we believe we're in a position now to look forward to being put on the TxDOT schedule for our requested bridge expansion project," Six said. "This is good news and what we were hoping for." Six told the agency's officials that the Cedar Creek Lake area enjoyed substantial growth after the construction of the existing bridges in the 1960s. Six noted that continued growth has resulted in the two bridges becoming overcrowded and prone to closings because of accidents and repairs that cause loss of business and create hazardous traveling situations. Hanstrom also praised the participants in the delegation, including other Henderson County officials who wrote letters of support. "I'm especially appreciative of Representatives Pitts and Gooden and the TxDot representatives for recognizing our need and responding in such a swift and positive way," Hanstrom said. The delegation traveling to Austin included Scott Confer, executive director of Mabank Economic Development Corp.; Marty Mullins, chair of the chamber's board of directors; Seven Points Mayor Kevin Pollock; Gun Barrel City Mayor Paul Eaton and Gun Barrel City Councilman Dennis Baade.