Once upon a time the towns of Garza and Little Elm were separated by just a few miles.  That changed when Lake Dallas was built in the 1920′s.  What had been a short drive became a long roundabout trip.  The town of Garza changed its name to Lake Dallas and the two towns have been separated by a lake ever since, firs it was Lake Dallas and then an  expanded lake… Lake Lewisville.   That separation is all about to change again with the opening of the Lake Lewisville Toll Bridge in August.  

The new toll bridge will suddenly make the I35-E corridor more accessible to people living in Little Elm, Oak Point and other communities on the eastern shore of the lake.   The new bridge will link up Swisher Road in Lake Dallas with El Dorado Parkway in Little Elm.  What used to take 35 to 40 minutes will now be a 5 minute drive.    This new convenience will also mean new opportunities for businesses located on I35E.    Denton car dealer, Bill Utter Ford has already purchased and posted a billboard just east of the entrance to the bridge.  

Just the Utter Side of the Lake!

The bridge will be dedicated this Thursday, July 30 at 9am and will be followed with a community celebration on  Saturday August 1st featuring a 5K Fun Run and Family Fun Walk.  Participants will have the chance to run or walk the bridge beginning at 8:00 Saturday morning before the bridge formally opens to traffic a few days later.  This bridge has been a long time in the planning (there was even a political candidate who advocated a tunnel under the lake years ago!) and it will bring change to both sides of the lake.  Just as the construction of the old Lake Dallas brought change to the area over 80 years ago.

Tim Crouch is the founding partner of The Crouch Group based in Denton, Texas.  Rambling Ideas are thoughts, comments and observations on marketing and advertising ideas and opportunities.  To contact Tim Crouch – Call The Crouch Group at 940-383-1990 or by email tim@thecrouchgroup.com.