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
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
-
$589,500
311 W 5th ST #807
Austin, TX -
$430,000
360 Nueces ST #1608
Austin, TX -
$1,390,000
555 E 5th ST #3001
Austin, TX -
$2,999,000
200 CONGRESS AVE #26H
Austin, TX -
$865,000
98 San Jacinto BLVD #2503
Austin, TX -
$2,695,000
98 San Jacinto BLVD #1103
Austin, TX -
$750,000
555 E 5th ST #2809
Austin, TX -
$1,500,000
210 Lavaca ST #2208
Austin, TX -
$2,150,000
200 CONGRESS AVE #40E
Austin, TX -
$565,000
800 Brazos ST #1208
Austin, TX -
$479,000
360 Nueces ST #1301
Austin, TX -
$765,000
222 West AVE #1304
Austin, TX -
$559,000
54 Rainey #518
Austin, TX -
$699,000
360 Nueces ST #1617
Austin, TX -
$490,000
222 West AVE #2807
Austin, TX -
$4,500,000
210 Lavaca ST #2405
Austin, TX -
$4,795,000
210 Lavaca ST #3704
Austin, TX -
$575,000
710 Colorado ST #B-4
Austin, TX -
$649,999
360 Nueces ST #3904
Austin, TX -
$529,000
360 Nueces ST #3201
Austin, TX -
$1,875,000
200 Congress AVE #20F
Austin, TX -
$450,000
222 West AVE #1403
Austin, TX -
$599,000
360 Nueces ST #4101
Austin, TX -
$929,000
222 West AVE #2613
Austin, TX -
$965,000
222 West AVE #2112
Austin, TX
-
$589,500Lot Size174 sqft
Home Size1,243 sq ft
Beds1 bed
Baths2 baths
-
$430,000Lot Size87 sqft
Home Size732 sq ft
Beds1 bed
Baths1 bath
-
$1,390,000Lot Size261 sqft
Home Size2,488 sq ft
Beds2 beds
Baths3 baths
-
$2,999,000Lot SizeN/A
Home Size2,898 sq ft
Beds3 beds
Baths4 baths
-
$865,000Lot Size261 sqft
Home Size1,060 sq ft
Beds1 bed
Baths1 bath
-
$2,695,000Lot Size609 sqft
Home Size2,707 sq ft
Beds2 beds
Baths3 baths
-
$750,000Lot Size130 sqft
Home Size1,358 sq ft
Beds2 beds
Baths2 baths
-
$1,500,000Lot Size130 sqft
Home Size1,579 sq ft
Beds2 beds
Baths2 baths
-
$2,150,000Lot Size130 sqft
Home Size1,918 sq ft
Beds2 beds
Baths2 baths
-
$565,000Lot Size348 sqft
Home Size1,324 sq ft
Beds2 beds
Baths2 baths
-
$479,000Lot Size87 sqft
Home Size801 sq ft
Beds1 bed
Baths1 bath
-
$765,000Lot Size304 sqft
Home Size1,123 sq ft
Beds2 beds
Baths2 baths
-
$559,000Lot Size304 sqft
Home Size1,164 sq ft
Beds2 beds
Baths2 baths
-
$699,000Lot Size130 sqft
Home Size1,115 sq ft
Beds2 beds
Baths2 baths
-
$490,000Lot Size217 sqft
Home Size685 sq ft
Beds1 bed
Baths1 bath
-
$4,500,000Lot Size261 sqft
Home Size3,498 sq ft
Beds3 beds
Baths3 baths
-
$4,795,000Lot Size217 sqft
Home Size3,147 sq ft
Beds3 beds
Baths4 baths
-
$575,000Lot Size130 sqft
Home Size1,180 sq ft
Beds1 bed
Baths1 bath
-
$649,999Lot Size130 sqft
Home Size998 sq ft
Beds2 beds
Baths2 baths
-
$529,000Lot Size87 sqft
Home Size801 sq ft
Beds1 bed
Baths1 bath
-
$1,875,000Lot Size130 sqft
Home Size1,926 sq ft
Beds2 beds
Baths3 baths
-
$450,000Lot Size217 sqft
Home Size687 sq ft
Beds1 bed
Baths1 bath
-
$599,000Lot Size87 sqft
Home Size801 sq ft
Beds1 bed
Baths1 bath
-
$929,000Lot Size392 sqft
Home Size1,360 sq ft
Beds2 beds
Baths2 baths
-
$965,000Lot SizeN/A
Home Size1,322 sq ft
Beds2 beds
Baths2 baths
