Drake Bridge Commons

Most Austinites know Drake Bridge as the 1st Street Bridge, and there is little sense of the Trail at Drake Bridge as a place or destination. This project, an inaugural Corgan Canopy Fund project, intends to create a memorable space under the north Drake Bridge and anticipates new walking surfaces and an improved water’s edge. Because the under-bridge condition is so dark, it offers possibilities for dramatic treatments in the use of lighting, water, and materials. While the focus is the area under the bridge itself, an extended zone on each side will also be considered.

The Trail Conservancy hired Rios Clementi Hale Studios, a multi-disciplinary award-winning design firm that recently opened their offices in Austin, to develop the conceptual design.

The conceptual design phase is now complete. The next phase of the project is pending the design of the Project Connect Orange Line by Capital Metro. The Orange Line (PDF map) will be a north/south transit line that is currently proposed to run adjacent to the Drake Bridge.