Austin’s Barton Springs Road Bridge turned 100 years old on June 21, with the Save Our Springs Alliance hosting a centennial event near the bridge’s entrance to Zilker Park.
Replacement Debate
The celebration took place amid an ongoing debate over the bridge’s future, as the city of Austin moves forward with plans to replace the structure. Austin Transportation and Public Works has the bridge in the design phase, with bid and award expected late 2026 to early 2027 and construction slated to begin in summer 2027.
Funding for the replacement includes the 2020 Mobility Bond and a $32 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bridge Investment Program. City officials say the 1926 structure, while structurally fair, has features that are functionally obsolete and presents mobility challenges for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians.
Save Our Springs contends that restoration would cost less than demolition and a wider replacement, and that construction would harm Barton Creek habitat and the adjacent Umlauf Sculpture Garden and a nearby archaeological district.
Original reporting: Community Impact — Austin — read the source article.
