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City staff warns of aging bridges, estimates $149 million near‑term need and $30 million annual maintenance shortfall

November 13, 2025 | Austin, Travis County, Texas


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City staff warns of aging bridges, estimates $149 million near‑term need and $30 million annual maintenance shortfall
Austin Transportation and Public Works presented the committee with its bridge inventory, condition assessment and funding estimate, flagging an aging inventory and a gap between need and available funds.

"Currently, we have 466 bridges in category major bridges with span over 20 feet," an ATPW presenter said, and staff reported an average composite structural rating (CSR) of 6.5 for major bridges, which ATPW characterized as "satisfactory" while noting 35% of major bridges are at or beyond their design life. ATPW estimated about $149,000,000 in rehabilitation and replacement needs across major, small and pedestrian/bike structures in the near five‑year window and said roughly $30,000,000 per year would be required to maintain bridge condition long term.

Funding context: Staff said the city has about $62,000,000 available for specific bridge projects but that most federal and state off‑system funding is competitive; ATPW reported an earlier FHWA grant award in FY24 and said the department will continue to pursue grant and bond opportunities. The presentation also noted the city's bridge asset replacement value is roughly $3 billion and that a 20‑year, condition‑based estimate could total about $400 million.

Questions and jurisdiction: Council members asked whether pedestrian/bike bridges counted in the presentation include trail bridges outside the public right‑of‑way; ATPW clarified the 20 pedestrian/bike bridges reported are city right‑of‑way assets and that inventory of trail‑network bridges outside the right‑of‑way is scheduled for FY27.

Next steps: ATPW said it will complete CSR updates, finish the pedestrian/bike inventory by FY27, develop a street and bridge rehabilitation plan, and continue to pursue federal and state grant opportunities and CAMPO project calls.

Ending: The briefing identified funding gaps and set out an inventory and planning work program but recorded no committee vote or immediate funding decision.

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