TOWERS

Austin city life since 2007.

Search
You are here: Home / News / Work Begins on Lady Bird Lake Trail Bridge Under Congress Avenue
Search suggestions: Block 71 • 6th Street • Condos for sale

Work Begins on Lady Bird Lake Trail Bridge Under Congress Avenue

Comment

A rendering of the planned bridge under Congress Avenue. Image: The Trail Foundation

The Trail Foundation, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to the upkeep of the city’s Hike and Bike Trail, celebrated a groundbreaking ceremony last night commemorating the start of construction on a new pedestrian and bicycle bridge for the stretch of the trail underneath the north end of the Congress Avenue Bridge. According to the foundation, the bridge is planned to open this summer, with a price tag of $2.5 million.

Barges in place under the Congress Avenue Bridge will be used to construct the trail bridge. Image: The Trail Foundation

In addition to its utility for trail users, the 14-foot wide pedestrian structure will serve as a viewing platform for the bat colonies underneath the bridge. According to the Trail Foundation’s press release announcing the groundbreaking, the structure will be built from concrete and steel with a design stated to be similar to that of the trail’s boardwalk, and that’s a pretty safe bet — contracting firm Jay-Reese, which built both the boardwalk and the trail’s Pfluger pedestrian bridge, will also handle this bridge’s construction.

A view of the existing wooden bridge under Congress Avenue. Image: The Trail Foundation

The existing section of trail underneath the northern end of the Congress Avenue Bridge, a narrow wooden structure unsuitable for current trail traffic. Image: The Trail Foundation

The existing section of trail under the Congress Avenue Bridge is an aging wooden structure too narrow to allow cyclists and pedestrians to pass safely:  

In addition to the bat viewing area, the new 172-foot long pedestrian bridge will also enhance Trail safety for pedestrians and bicyclists by removing a blind curve on the existing structure, widening the pathway to allow cyclists and runners to pass each other safely without the risk of collision, making the area ADA-accessible, connecting the Trail to the Waller Creek area, and lowering the city’s maintenance costs.

— The Trail Foundation, March 29, 2018

The bridge has been in the planning stages since at least 2015, but it makes good sense for the project to kick off in earnest now — the Line ATX hotel project redeveloping the Radisson just north of the Congress Avenue Bridge will open later this spring, meaning the section of the trail passing under the north side of the bridge is practically in the hotel’s backyard.
 

A rendering of the Line ATX redevelopment of the Radisson hotel near the Congress Avenue Bridge. You’ll probably be able to see the new trail bridge from the hotel’s pool. Image: The Line ATX

Keeping that in mind, it’s no surprise that the Line is listed in the Trail Foundation’s donor list as a “Lakefront Sponsor” — indicating the hotel has donated $50,000 or more towards the bridge’s completion. Amusingly enough, one of the Line’s four restaurants is a burger bar named Bridge & Trail. Draw your own conclusions, folks.

Latest Downtown Austin Condos For Sale

Photo of 300 Bowie ST #4202, Austin, TX 78703 (MLS # 8891513)

300 Bowie ST #4202 , Austin

  • Home size: 3,593 sq ft
  • Lot size: 348 sqft
  • Year built: 2007
  • 3 beds
  • 4 baths
  • $3,490,000
Photo of 360 Nueces ST #1609, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 2645128)

360 Nueces ST #1609 , Austin

  • Home size: 744 sq ft
  • Lot size: 87 sqft
  • Year built: 2008
  • 1 bed
  • 1 bath
  • $440,000
Photo of 555 E 5th ST #2822, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 4436276)

555 E 5th ST #2822 , Austin

  • Home size: 1,617 sq ft
  • Lot size: 174 sqft
  • Year built: 2004
  • 2 beds
  • 2 baths
  • $849,900
Photo of 360 Nueces ST #2302, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 3710125)

360 Nueces ST #2302 , Austin

  • Home size: 1,059 sq ft
  • Lot size: 130 sqft
  • Year built: 2008
  • 2 beds
  • 2 baths
  • $645,000
Photo of 40 N Interstate 35 #12C2, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 5139397)

40 N Interstate 35 #12C2 , Austin

  • Home size: 1,459 sq ft
  • Lot size: 1,132 sqft
  • Year built: 1983
  • 2 beds
  • 2 baths
  • $699,950
Photo of 1212 Guadalupe ST #803, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 5944174)

1212 Guadalupe ST #803 , Austin

  • Home size: 850 sq ft
  • Lot size: 261 sqft
  • Year built: 1973
  • 2 beds
  • 2 baths
  • $448,900
Photo of Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 9927602)

MLS # 9927602 , Austin

  • Home size: 1,060 sq ft
  • Lot size: 261 sqft
  • Year built: 2010
  • 1 bed
  • 1 bath
  • $774,900
Photo of 222 West AVE #1910, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 8879820)

222 West AVE #1910 , Austin

  • Home size: 558 sq ft
  • Year built: 2014
  • 0 beds
  • 1 bath
  • $365,000
Photo of 800 Brazos ST #807, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 5383184)

800 Brazos ST #807 , Austin

  • Home size: 1,399 sq ft
  • Lot size: 30,056 sqft
  • Year built: 1949
  • 2 beds
  • 2 baths
  • $525,000
Photo of 603 Davis ST #1808, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 3075430)

603 Davis ST #1808 , Austin

  • Home size: 923 sq ft
  • Lot size: 174 sqft
  • Year built: 2006
  • 1 bed
  • 1 bath
  • $449,000
Photo of 54 Rainey ST #705, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 4710131)

54 Rainey ST #705 , Austin

  • Home size: 781 sq ft
  • Lot size: 217 sqft
  • Year built: 2005
  • 1 bed
  • 1 bath
  • $342,000
Photo of 360 Nueces ST #1316, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 1079636)

360 Nueces ST #1316 , Austin

  • Home size: 1,117 sq ft
  • Lot size: 130 sqft
  • Year built: 2008
  • 2 beds
  • 2 baths
  • $675,000
Photo of Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 3011634)

MLS # 3011634 , Austin

  • Home size: 754 sq ft
  • Lot size: 87 sqft
  • Year built: 1940
  • 1 bed
  • 1 bath
  • $435,000
Photo of 360 Nueces ST #1108, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 4105498)

360 Nueces ST #1108 , Austin

  • Home size: 732 sq ft
  • Lot size: 87 sqft
  • Year built: 2008
  • 1 bed
  • 1 bath
  • $415,000
Photo of 210 Lavaca ST #2210, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 8867339)

210 Lavaca ST #2210 , Austin

  • Home size: 1,423 sq ft
  • Lot size: 130 sqft
  • Year built: 2011
  • 2 beds
  • 3 baths
  • $1,200,000
Photo of 360 Nueces ST #3206, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 2567979)

360 Nueces ST #3206 , Austin

  • Home size: 748 sq ft
  • Lot size: 87 sqft
  • Year built: 2008
  • 1 bed
  • 1 bath
  • $479,900
Photo of 505 W 7th ST #118, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 8303604)

505 W 7th ST #118 , Austin

  • Home size: 1,035 sq ft
  • Lot size: 653 sqft
  • Year built: 1964
  • 2 beds
  • 2 baths
  • $432,500
Photo of 210 Lavaca ST #2602, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 2667588)

210 Lavaca ST #2602 , Austin

  • Home size: 1,068 sq ft
  • Lot size: 87 sqft
  • Year built: 2011
  • 2 beds
  • 2 baths
  • $964,500
Photo of 904 West AVE #214B, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 4869417)

904 West AVE #214B , Austin

  • Home size: 1,472 sq ft
  • Lot size: 871 sqft
  • Year built: 2012
  • 2 beds
  • 2 baths
  • $679,000
Photo of 555 E 5th ST #3006, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 7058987)

555 E 5th ST #3006 , Austin

  • Home size: 5,055 sq ft
  • Lot size: 522 sqft
  • Year built: 2004
  • 3 beds
  • 4 baths
  • $2,274,245
Photo of 222 West AVE #2708, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 4740029)

222 West AVE #2708 , Austin

  • Home size: 558 sq ft
  • Lot size: 174 sqft
  • Year built: 2016
  • 1 bed
  • 1 bath
  • $405,000
Photo of 555 E 5th ST #2829, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 7135196)

555 E 5th ST #2829 , Austin

  • Home size: 2,099 sq ft
  • Lot size: 217 sqft
  • Year built: 2004
  • 2 beds
  • 3 baths
  • $1,299,000
Photo of 800 Brazos ST #1209, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 8797354)

800 Brazos ST #1209 , Austin

  • Home size: 884 sq ft
  • Lot size: 217 sqft
  • Year built: 1949
  • 1 bed
  • 1 bath
  • $329,000
Photo of 40 N Interstate 35 #PA1, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 3387978)

40 N Interstate 35 #PA1 , Austin

  • Home size: 6,639 sq ft
  • Lot size: 4,878 sqft
  • Year built: 1983
  • 4 beds
  • 5 baths
  • $3,299,000
Photo of 300 Bowie ST #3105, Austin, TX 78703 (MLS # 9486116)

300 Bowie ST #3105 , Austin

  • Home size: 983 sq ft
  • Lot size: 87 sqft
  • Year built: 2007
  • 2 beds
  • 2 baths
  • $689,900
previous next
 

Editor's Suggested Posts

A History of Austin's Famous Hike and Bike Trail, Which Wasn't Always Green

A History of Austin's Famous Hike and Bike Trail, Which Wasn't Always Green

Get Lost in This 1976 Vision for a New Congress Avenue

Get Lost in This 1976 Vision for a New Congress Avenue

After More Than a Century, What's Changed on Congress Avenue?

After More Than a Century, What's Changed on Congress Avenue?

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Browse Real Estate Properties For Sale Austin Properties For Sale