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Hays Street Bridge

The existing Hays Street Bridge consists of two spans, one long “Whipple” truss (the Phoenix Span-named after the company in Pennsylvania that designed it, 226’) and one short Pratt truss (129’).  They were originally a part of a lengthy railroad bridge build across the Atchafalaya Basin near Morgan City, Louisiana around 1887.  When this rail line was upgraded, the spans were relocated to San Antonio in 1910 by the GH & SA Railroad Company as an above-grade automobile viaduct over their rail line.  It is one of six remaining bridges in Texas using this Whipple/Phoenix truss.

On July 23, 1982 the bridge was permanently barricaded and closed to vehicular traffic because it was deemed structurally unsound.  On October 13, 1983, the City Council authorized a Construction and Maintenance Agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to replace the Hays Street Bridge.  Fortunately, the attempt at replacement never materialized.

Unfortunately, however, the bridge continued to decay through the 80s and 90s until an Eastside community development organization, Neighborhoods Acting Together (NAT), requested that the City of San Antonio's Planning Department develop a "Special Study" in 2000.  After holding a number of public brainstorm sessions to explore adaptive reuse opportunities for the bridge, it was determined that the use as a hike and bike facility would be the most appropriate and could help soften the barrier effect created by US Highway 281 between the Eastside and downtown. 

In order to accomplish this goal, the City successfully applied to TxDOT for federal Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) funding.  The dual purpose of the TEA-21 program was to promote alternative modes of transportation and the enhancement of existing transportation facilities.  Because the Hays Street Bridge project proposed a heritage bicycle loop that would link to the San Antonio River Improvement Project as well as to the Salado Creek Hike/Bike greenway, the Hays Street Bridge rehabilitation received a TEA-21 reimbursement commitment of eighty percent of the proposed $3.6 million project cost in late 2001.

The Hays Street Bridge Restoration Group is the community organization that was created to assist with design oversight and to raise additional funds for the project.  They meet with City staff on a monthly basis to discuss issues related to the bridge project.

The rehabilitation is currently in the design phase and construction should begin in early 2006.

Hays Street Bridge brochure