Burnet pedestrian bridge moving forward, design firm selected
A conceptual design for the U.S. 281 pedestrian bridge presented to the city by chosen design firm Hardesty & Hanover. Image courtesy of Hardesty & Hanover
A pedestrian bridge stretching over U.S. 281 near Fourth Street in Burnet will soon enter the design phase after the City Council approved a firm to spearhead the project’s blueprint during a Tuesday, June 9, meeting.
The bridge, first introduced to the city in 2024, will serve as a safe crossing for residents at the highway, namely for students of the nearby Burnet middle and high schools.
The roughly $5 million project will be entirely funded by a grant awarded to the city in August 2024 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Initial estimates tapped a construction start date in April 2027, and completion by mid-2028.
Hardesty & Hanover, an engineering firm with lengthy experience in designing bridges, highways, and interchanges, was selected from eight firms to lead the project. One of their conceptual designs for the bridge can be found here on slide 24.
City Engineer Eric Belaj shared some preliminary information about the bridge’s potential design with council, adding that there were conversations with firms about making the crossing more appealing to children, as well as paved paths from the middle school to the bridge.
“(Some firms) suggested to make it a destination. You got to make the kids want to use it,” Belaj said. “And we’re looking at an option, if there’s funding, to add walkways from the school… to the neighborhood.”
City staff has previously mentioned a desire for accessible stairs, elevators and ramps, a fully-enclosed walkway, plentiful lighting, and an aesthetically pleasing design.
With council unanimously approving the selection of the design firm, the next step will be for City Manager David Vaughn to negotiate and execute a contract with H&H to present to council.