The latest pedestrian bridge to span Buffalo Bayou was craned into place this past Thursday. The 345-ft. bridge almost hooks up with the skinnier chain-linked one that spans Memorial Dr. from Jackson Jackson Hill St. on the north. The Buffalo Bayou Partnership’s master plan shows that this bridge will serve the so-called Lost Lake — a space for which is being cleared of all kinds of vegetation just west of this site. You could say that the bridge might also encourage Rosie Ruiz-inspired joggers to take a shortcut and avoid going the extra mile around the Shepherd Dr. bridge-under-a-bridge just a bit farther west.
***
This view looks south toward the Royalton condo tower on Allen Pkwy. The aforementioned master plan appears to call for one more pedestrian bridge to be installed — near the Police Officers’ Memorial, just west of Sawyer St.
- Previously on Swamplot: Fighting the Invaders of Buffalo Bayou, The Next New Bridge Going over the Bayou, That New Bridge Going in Under the Bridge Over the Bayou, More Pedestrian Bridges and Other Twists and Turns in the Plans for Buffalo Bayou Park
Photos: Buffalo Bayou Partnership
I saw this bridge work last week when I went home for lunch.
Amazing to see the all of the master plan’s elements coming to fruition.
Hard to find any faults in this, but I just wish that the terrifically modern bridge that spans memorial could be widened and the chain link portion removed. By being so skinny (and curiously unstable-feeling if you try and ride a bike on it), it effectively cuts off bike access to the park for those east of Shepard and west of Waugh.
The chain link fence bridge is stable. It’s effective when I run or ride my bike over it.
DNAguy, there is nothing unstable about pedestrian bridge over Memorial. It could be widen with no change to the underlying structure, but it is not necessary.
That bridge over Memorial does feel a little sketchy and could use a widening. But what about a bridge over Allen Parkway near Taft? Or at least a crosswalk.
Widening the bridge over Memorial would be a great idea. It gets a bit tight when you are crossing in the opposite direction of the guy with the two giant pit bulls. The chain link part will probably be a permanent feature to keep sickos from trying to throw cement blocks on cars underneath.
It’s actually at Jackson Hill, not Jackson.
Last bridge? What about the one over by the police officer memorial? Not as dramatic, but still a pedestrian bridge over the bayou.
Whoops! Should read the whole piece!!!
Man, I really screwed that one! I read “last” not “latest”…arggghhhh I need a beer.
Check out this other article on the bridge design. Has a ton of good pictures and shout outs to H-towns own SWA Landscape Architects. http://landscapeurbanism.com/behind-the-scenes-designing-jackson-hill-bridge-the-next-pedestrian-bridge-for-buffalo-bayou-in-houston/
These foot bridges are making the intercity region more livable. It is nice to see Houston making an effort.
@Miz Brooke Smith: You’re right. It’s Jackson Hill St. The story has been updated.