The city of Austin will replace a 97-year-old bridge, called the Barton Springs Road Bridge, with a modern $36 million structure. City officials recently greenlit the project’s design phase, selecting a bridge option that will address obsolete features, roadway misalignment and structural deterioration that pose a risk to traffic. Construction is expected to begin in 2025.
The current four-lane bridge carries up to 20,000 vehicles per day but lacks the space to safely accommodate bikes and pedestrian paths. It also fails to meet ADA compliance standards.
The replacement will maintain the four-lane configuration over the creek. Plans for a widened deck include extra space for protected bike lanes and multi-use pedestrian paths on both sides of the bridge. The city will realign nearby interchanges to accommodate the replacement bridge. In addition, the bridge will provide larger spaces on the west bank for offroad hike-and-bike trails.
The bridge will use a three-span structure that provides enough space for multiple water traffic lanes. The design features Y-piers to support the structure while minimizing visual clutter beneath the bridge.
The city will ensure that four lanes of traffic will remain open at all times while the replacement bridge is built. The project will split construction into three phases. Phase 1 will include structures on the north and south sides of the existing bridge. Phase 2 will demolish half of the bridge and build the second half of the structure on the bridge’s south side. Phase 3 will finish demolishing the bridge and building the remainder of the north-side structure.
Strategic Partnerships, Inc. can provide information on contract opportunities, plus existing and future government funding. For more information, contact research@spartnerships.com.
Photo courtesy of the city of Austin
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