Southwest Austin’s Potential Hike & Bike Bridge
February 16, 2012 - 30 views
Southwest Austin can use as many commuter options as possible, as it continues to grow into its reputation as one of the nicer places in Austin to buy a home. The city is currently looking at a proposal to construct a hike and bike bridge that connects a series of new and existing bike lanes from Escarpment to William Cannon, near the Ridge at Lantana subdivision, then from 290 West to Southwest Parkway, and then Southwest Parkway would lead to the new grade-separated bridge that connects to Zilker Park and the trail system downtown.
Seventy percent of the cost of a bicycle/pedestrian bridge will be covered by a $7 million grant from state and federal funds. The remainder will be covered by local bond funds.
The main issue that comes up in the discussion of the new bridge is a typical one when construction is proposed in Austin: the environment. For some, the environmental benefits that come from a non-gas commuting option outweigh the construction impact of the bridge. (Much of Southwest Austin, including the proposed bridge site, sits on top of a karst preserve.) The bridge area also would be constructed over Barton Creek, which naturally raises concerns for some. Local environmental groups are being consulted, however, to conduct the project in the most environmentally-friendly manner possible.
For anyone considering real estate in Southwest Austin, agents at Regent Property Group can help find the perfect home in a great location. Ridge at Lantana is a hill country neighborhood that will be easily accessible from the proposed bike bridge path, making a daily bike ride into downtown a possibility.
