Council OKs funds for Redbud Trail bridge

Last week, Council approved amending a contract with URS Corporation to take the next steps in designing a replacement for the Redbud Trail/Emmett Shelton Bridge over Lady Bird Lake. The circa-1948 bridge has suffered degradation and steel fatigue and has insufficient bicycle and pedestrian paths and roadway shoulders, according to backup material. If it seems like this project has been in the works for a long time, that’s because it has been. Austin voters approved initial funding for replacing the bridge in the 2012 bond election. Public Works Director Richard Mendoza told Council that the next phase of the project would deplete 2012 funding and use money from the 2018 bond funds. The amendment increases funding by more than $1 million to a contract amount of a little more than $2 million. Council awarded the contract to URS Corporation in May 2015. In response to questions from Council Member Kathie Tovo, Mendoza said there would be public input on the second phase of bridge design, which will include more meetings with stakeholders as well as an “aesthetics workshop” with city staff. Construction is slated to start in 2021 or ’22 and be completed in 2023 or ’24.