AUSTIN, Texas — The future of one of Austin's oldest bridges has been decided.
The Barton Springs Bridge, which passes over Barton Creek and serves as a major thoroughfare in and out of Zilker Park, will be replaced.
The Austin City Council approved a plan to replace the nearly 100-year-old bridge, even though experts say it's in fair structural condition. The bridge was originally built in 1925 and does not meet current design standards, according to experts.
"There's definitely some safety and mobility improvements that are needed," Mayor Pro Tem Paige Ellis (District 8) said. "I appreciate everyone's perspective and trying to make sure that this bridge is not only visually appealing but adds to the aesthetic of Zilker Park, which we all know and love very much."
Recently, Capital Delivery Services director James Snow sent a memo sent to Mayor Kirk Watson and council members saying the Barton Springs Road Bridge needed either improvements or replacement. An engineering study found that while the bridge is structurally in fair condition, it's had significant degradation in the reinforcing steel in the bridge deck and structure.
Each day, more than 20,000 vehicles and pedestrians use the bridge as a main access point to Zilker Park.
The rehabilitation option would've cost Austin as much as $38 million and would've replaced the bridge deck and widened pedestrian and bike lanes. Less than half of the original structure would've remained in place. Meanwhile, constructing a new bridge is expected to cost between $37 to $43 million.
An engineering team recommended the complete replacement with a three-span structure that has "Y-shaped" piers. Capital Delivery Services said a new bridge would be built in three phases.
Funding for the design is expected to come from a bond voters approved in 2020, but Austin leaders have not yet set aside funding for construction.
Boomtown is KVUE's series covering the explosive growth in Central Texas. For more Boomtown stories, head to KVUE.com/Boomtown.