The nearly-70-year-old Emmett Shelton bridge—named after the founder of neighboring West Lake Hills—on Redbud Trail is “reaching the end of its operational life” and needs to be replaced, according to Austin public works staff.
The 28-foot-wide bridge that provides access into the city of West Lake Hills from Lake Austin Boulevard passes by the Tom Miller Dam. It has a three-foot, slightly elevated sidewalk that lines the left side of the road heading toward West Lake Hills. Red Bud Isle, an off-leash dog park located at 3401 Redbud Trail, sits at the end of the bridge.
The design and construction of the new bridge is currently projected to cost $25 to $35 million. So far, $1.1 million has been approved by Austin City Council and funded through 1998, 2006 and 2012 bonds for preliminary studies and designs.
Courtney Black, public information officer for the Austin Public Works Department, said the remaining funds for the project would likely come from a bond, which requires a community vote. She said the city has not yet identified when the bond election could be held.
Three conceptual designs
Engineers presented three potential bridge options at the public open house June 7 including a 41-foot-high southern option and two northern options that are both 19 feet high.
The first option—a 41-foot-high bridge—would be built slightly south of the current bridge and force developers to cut into the cliffs lining the side of Redbud Trail. The second option—a 19-foot-high bridge—would be built slightly north of the current bridge. The third bridge option—also at 19 feet high—would be built further north, closer to the Lower Colorado River Authority access drive.
Engineers with AECOM said the new bridge would better accommodate pedestrians and cyclists, many of whom traverse the bridge to access Red Bud Isle.
A potential cross section displayed at the open house shows a 6-foot bike lane, a 6-foot shoulder, two 12-foot lanes, another 6-foot shoulder and a 12-foot shared use path that is separated from the car lanes by a barrier. The potential width of the bridge could total 60 feet.
This image shows the three proposed bridge options that would replace the current Redbud Trail bridge.[/caption]Citizen input
More than 50 people came to the first public open house to see the bridge options and share feedback.
Jim Christianson, a city of Austin resident, said he could not understand why Austin taxpayers were required to pay for the project through their taxes when most motorists traveling on the bridge are West Lake Hills residents.
“I want to know why our city is spending money that’s not benefiting Austin residents,” he said.
Christianson said he did not favor any of the conceptual designs, suggesting instead that the city spend the minimal amount of money needed on bridge repairs to make it sufficiently safe and focus its efforts on other congested areas within the city.
“We need to make this safe,” he said. “We don’t need to build a Taj Mahal.”
Rollingwood resident Julie Valentine echoed Christianson’s concerns about other roads needing more attention in Austin.
“I don’t quite understand why [the city of Austin] picked this project out of all the needs they have,” she said.
Valentine said she was also concerned with how the new bridge would impact the natural beauty and peacefulness of the area.
“How will [the bridge] change the whole aspect of this quiet place that Austin still has left?” she said.
Next steps
“Right now, we’re just accepting any and all comments,” Black said.
The public works department plans to review public feedback and refine the bridge options, then hold another public open house the first quarter of 2017.
Following the second open house, engineers will determine the new bridge concept before it is reviewed by the city’s mobility committee and Austin City Council. Then the city will begin designing the bridge and obtaining the necessary permits for the project.
The design timeline is expected to run through the end of 2017, Black said.
Although West Lake Hills is not responsible for project funding as it is within Austin city limits, the Austin Public Works Department and the bridge design engineers met with West Lake Hills Mayor Linda Anthony and City Council prior to the open house to discuss the project, she said.
Anthony said one of her concerns includes the width of the proposed bridge, which she says could lead to more traffic if the city of Austin ever decides to turn the multi-use pedestrian lanes into additional traffic lanes.
"West Lake Hills does not want four-lane expressways going through the middle of the town," she said.
Anthony said she favors the orange proposal, which most closely follows the existing bridge.
More details on the project can be found on the Austin Public Works Department website.
