Pfluger Pedestrian and Bicycle Bridge, Austin, TX

ROMA was commissioned by the City of Austin as part of a multi-disciplinary team to design the extension of the City’s recently completed pedestrian and bicycle bridge which crosses Town Lake. The goal was to provide uninterrupted bike and pedestrian access from the south side of the lake to the north side, where a complex of civic, cultural and new urban uses were planned, and where existing commercial services create a major activity center and destination. The first phase of the work involved coordination between public agencies, private developers, bike and pedestrian activists and has resulted in a preferred alignment which has been adopted by the City. Tree plantings, landscaping, lighting and irrigation were also included in the project. Further planned improvements include a bicycle and pedestrian trail through the Gables Development and the Bowie Underpass to carry bicycle and pedestrian traffic to 3rd Street at Bowie Street. The Pfluger Bridge Extension project eliminates a major barrier to bicycle and pedestrian traffic, creates connectivity to the growing network of bicycle and pedestrian paths in Austin, and provides a direct, north-south route to the Market District for cyclists and pedestrians.