The U.S. Department of Transportation is chipping in $32 million to help replace the Barton Springs Road Bridge with a new, wider structure. City Council approved its replacement in December 2023 – though, at the time, there was funding only for the design phase of the project. “When I’m not in D.C., you can find me playing soccer at Zilker or swimming in Barton Springs,” said U.S. Rep. Greg Casar (D-Austin) in a statement to the press. “But all of us know that scary feeling of holding your breath as you walk across the 1920s bridge towards Barton Springs. With these federal dollars, every driver, biker, and pedestrian will be able to breathe easier. With an improved bridge, we can finally get to these Austin gems safely.”
Elizabeth Pagano is the editor of the Austin Monitor. More by Elizabeth Pagano