The Austin City Council recently approved a proposed plan to TEAR DOWN the historic Zilker Park bridge that crosses Barton Creek at Barton Springs Road. This historic bridge was originally constructed in 1926 and is a contributing structure to the Zilker Park National Register Historic District.
Despite the bridge's fair condition and advice from expert engineers that the bridge could easily be reinforced, the City of Austin wants to rip it out and replace it with an enormous and bland 110-ft.-wide concrete structure that is double the size of the existing bridge.
The proposed demolition and new construction would harm aquatic and riparian habitats, consume more park land for concrete, and further disturb an area of the creek already struggling with erosion and water quality. The beautiful stone arches and columns much loved by hikers, swimmers and kayakers who know them well would be lost forever.
We can save this cultural treasure while improving pedestrian and bicycle connectivity downstream at the existing pedestrian bridge crossing.
Help us tell the City Council, "Hands off the Zilker Park Bridge!" Let's save our history, our park, our creek, and our money with less environmentally destructive options.
