Barton Springs Bridge

Barton Springs Bridge
Barton Springs Bridge substructure
Coordinates30°15′54″N 97°45′55″W / 30.26500°N 97.76528°W / 30.26500; -97.76528
CrossesBarton Creek
LocaleAustin, Texas, United States
History
Construction start1926
Opened1926
Statistics
Daily traffic~20,000[1]
Location
Map
Interactive map of Barton Springs Bridge

Barton Springs Bridge is a bridge in Austin, Texas, United States that crosses Barton Creek just before its confluence with the Colorado River. The western end of the bride connects to Zilker Park.[2][3]

Built in 1926 as a two lane bridge[1] at a cost of $31,500,[4] Barton Springs Bridge replaced an earlier wooden bridge.[5] From 1945[6] to 1946[1] the bridge was expanded to four lanes at a cost of $70,850.[1]

On December 14, 2023, amid concrete degradation and non-compliance with the standards established in the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 the Austin City Council voted to begin design work on a replacement bridge.[1]

In October 2024, the United States Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration awarded a $32 million grant[7] for the Barton Springs Bridge replacement project.[8] The 2025 U.S. federal government grant pause left the grant in an uncertain status until a protective order was issued.[9][10] On April 24, 2025, Austin City Council voted to accept the federal grant funds.[11]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Austin OKs design work for Barton Springs bridge replacement". December 14, 2023.
  2. ^ "Redbud, Barton Springs bridge fixes move ahead". Austin Monitor. May 1, 2015. Archived from the original on August 14, 2017. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  3. ^ Wear, Ben. "Austin considers replacing aging Barton Springs, Redbud Trail bridges". Austin American-Statesman. Archived from the original on July 6, 2021. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  4. ^ "Barton Bridge Cost $31,500, City Told". Austin American-Statesman. July 15, 1926. p. 1.
  5. ^ "Barton Springs Bridge replaced an earlier wooden bridge". Austin American-Statesman. March 21, 1925. p. 2.
  6. ^ "Barton Creek Bridge expansion work started in 1945". Austin American-Statesman. November 14, 1945. p. 2.
  7. ^ "BIP - Funding Programs - Management and Preservation - Bridges & Structures - Federal Highway Administration". www.fhwa.dot.gov. Retrieved November 2, 2025.
  8. ^ "Austin awarded $32M for Barton Springs Road Bridge replacement". KXAN Austin. October 31, 2024. Archived from the original on January 2, 2025. Retrieved November 2, 2025.
  9. ^ Connolly, Hanna (February 26, 2025). "Barton Springs Bridge replacement project still active following Trump funding freeze". The Daily Texan. Archived from the original on February 27, 2025. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
  10. ^ Uchida, Adela (February 22, 2025). "Trump administration orders could impact transit projects". KEYE. Archived from the original on February 22, 2025. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
  11. ^ Smith, Amy (April 25, 2025). "Council approves grant award to replace Barton Springs Road Bridge". Austin Monitor. Retrieved November 2, 2025.
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