The Austin City Council voted April 24 to approve plans to replace the Barton Springs Road bridge in Zilker Park, moving forward with a federally supported replacement project after public testimony urging repair and preservation.

The council removed item 50 from the consent agenda for discussion. After extended questioning of Transportation and Public Works staff and public comments that ranged from calls for full preservation to concerns about public safety and evacuation access, council voted to approve the replacement plan. Councilmember Paige Ellis made the motion to approve the item, which was seconded by Councilmember Jose Vela; the motion carried and the item was approved. Council later recorded Mayor Kirk Watson as voting in favor even though he had been temporarily off the dais during the initial vote.

Opponents, led by Bill Bunch of Save Our Springs Alliance and several nearby residents, pressed council to repair and maintain the historic structure rather than build a larger highway‑style bridge. "The core structure is solid. The decking needs attention, not demolition," Bunch said during public comment, urging the city to explore rehabilitation and smaller‑scale pedestrian solutions.

City staff and the transportation director, Richard Mendoza, summarized inspection history and engineering advice. Mendoza said the bridge is inspected every two years as part of the state bridge system and was rated in “fair” structural condition in 2024, but that earlier forensic inspections showed issues not visible in routine visual inspections. Mendoza said a consultant’s forensic work recommended major rehabilitation or full replacement within a five‑year horizon; those five years have passed. He also told council the city was awarded a federal bridge grant for about $32 million that would support replacement work. "This bridge has exceeded its design life and design use," Mendoza said, adding that while actions taken in recent years (lane reassignments and a Vision Zero treatment) bought time, the structure remains beyond the normal service life for its original design.

Residents opposed to replacement said independent engineer reviews found the bridge to be in fair condition and recommended targeted maintenance. Speakers also warned that a larger replacement could change park views and enable new utilities and greater venue access. Supporters of replacement, including some Barton Hills residents, highlighted emergency access and wildfire evacuation concerns; one resident said the bridge is a critical daily access point for his neighborhood.

Council and staff discussed construction staging and traffic impacts. Mendoza said the current grant application is for replacement and that the city planned to maintain two lanes of travel in each direction during construction where feasible; he also said his team is exploring accelerated schedules and staging options to minimize disruptions and to coordinate with major events such as ACL. Mendoza warned that if no action is taken, future inspections could require load restrictions that would limit access by buses, large delivery trucks and fire apparatus, which could affect transit routes and emergency response.

The council vote authorizes the project to proceed with replacement design and to accept the federal grant funding; construction will be subject to permitting, detailed design and public outreach and is expected to occur over multiple years. Opponents said they intend to continue advocacy for preservation options while staff and council proceed with the approved plan.

Ending: The approved replacement moves Austin toward a multi‑year construction project intended to address aging infrastructure and mobility needs; neighbors and preservation advocates said they will press for mitigation measures and continued community input as design details are finalized.