Robert L.B. Tobin Land Bridge

Last updated

Robert L.B. Tobin Land Bridge
Robert L.B. Tobin Land Bridge.jpg
Coordinates 29°33′31.5″N98°31′29.8″W / 29.558750°N 98.524944°W / 29.558750; -98.524944
Crosses Wurzbach Parkway
Locale29.5587019,-98.5246082
Named for Robert L.B. Tobin
Website philhardbergerpark.org/land-bridge
Characteristics
MaterialArched steel girders, concrete [1]
Total length189 feet (58 m)
Width150 feet (46 m)
Height25 feet (7.6 m) [1]
History
ArchitectLead: Rialto Studio
Landscape: Stimson Studio [1]
Engineering design by Arup [1]
Constructed bySpawGlass [1]
Construction startNovember 26, 2018
Construction endDecember 12, 2020
Construction cost$23 million - $13 million from a Voter-approved City Bond, $10 million in private donations and grants.
OpenedDecember 12, 2020
Location
Robert L.B. Tobin Land Bridge
Interactive map of Robert L.B. Tobin Land Bridge

The Robert L.B. Tobin Land Bridge is a wildlife crossing over Wurzbach Parkway in San Antonio's Phil Hardberger Park that opened in December 2020. The project cost $23 million and is designed for both wildlife and pedestrians.

Contents

History

Construction of the land bridge began on November 26, 2018, [2] [3] and was completed on December 12, 2020. [4]

On April 5, 2021, a footbridge called the Skywalk opened, which rises 18 feet (5 m) above the park, winds through the tree canopy, and connects to the land bridge at the end of its 1,000-foot (300 m) span. [5] [6]

Design

The bridge viewed from Wurzbach Parkway The Robert L.B. Tobin Land Bridge.jpg
The bridge viewed from Wurzbach Parkway

At 189 feet (58 m) long and 150 feet (46 m) wide, [7] it is the first mixed-use wildlife bridge in the United States and influenced the design of the Annenberg Wildlife Crossing in Agoura Hills, California in 2025. With 8-foot (2.4 m) tall noise damping corten steel walls on both sides, the land bridge is designed to appear to crossers as a small hill, continuing the landscape of the park. [8] [9] An ADA compliant walking path 8–10 feet (2.4–3.0 m) wide provides pedestrian access across the bridge and also connects to the 6-foot (1.8 m) wide Skywalk. [1] The bridge has a 250,000-US-gallon (950,000 L) underground cistern that collects stormwater run off from the park, the land bridge, and the nearby development. The reclaimed water is used in the water bubblers at the wildlife blinds. [10]

Animals using the bridge

Before the first anniversary of the Robert L.B. Tobin Land Bridge, all mammal species known to reside in the park were photographed on the land bridge, [11] wildlife traffic is not expected to substantially increase until the foliage planted on the bridge grows thicker. [12]

As part of a five-year study, the Parks and Recreation Department documented wildlife using the bridge. To date, species include the Virginia opossum, cottontail rabbit, white-tailed deer, coyote, rock squirrel, fox squirrel, rat, raccoon, armadillo, bobcat, gray fox, striped skunk, and white-tailed deer. [13] [14]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Westerman, Christine (October 2021). "Robert L. B. Tobin Land Bridge" (PDF). Texas A&M Transportation Institute . SWCA Environmental Consultants. p. 15.
  2. ↑ "Land Bridge Construction". Phil Hardberger Park Conservancy. July 17, 2019. Archived from the original on December 12, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  3. ↑ Donaldson, Emily (October 6, 2018). "City Breaks Ground on $23M Land Bridge to Connect Hardberger Park". San Antonio Report. Archived from the original on December 12, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  4. ↑ Kirkpatrick, Brian (December 10, 2020). "Largest Wildlife Bridge In U.S. Opens Friday At San Antonio's Hardberger Park". Texas Public Radio. Archived from the original on December 12, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  5. ↑ Galli, Joe (April 5, 2021). "Skywalk land bridge allows you to walk among the treetops at Phil Hardberger Park". WOAI-TV. Archived from the original on April 5, 2021. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
  6. ↑ Aguirre, Priscilla (April 5, 2021). "San Antonio park's anticipated skywalk opens with stunning views". San Antonio Express-News . Archived from the original on April 18, 2021. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
  7. ↑ Rubalcaba, Samantha (August 17, 2020). "Hardberger Park land bridge in final stretch of development ahead of fall opening". San Antonio Report. Archived from the original on September 22, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  8. ↑ McLeod, Gerald E. (January 1, 2021). "Day Trips: Robert L.B. Tobin Land Bridge, San Antonio". The Austin Chronicle . Archived from the original on January 12, 2021. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  9. ↑ Lewis, Sallie (January 4, 2021). "With a New Land Bridge, San Antonio Provides a Safe Passage for People and Wildlife". Texas Highways . Archived from the original on January 9, 2021. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  10. ↑ Smithson, Aaron (August 18, 2021). "This new San Antonio land bridge enables people and animals to safely cross a busy highway". The Architect's Newspaper. Archived from the original on September 7, 2021. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
  11. ↑ Shumaker, Teresa (December 10, 2020). "The Land Bridge Turns 1". The Phil Hardberger Park Conservancy. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  12. ↑ Selcraig, Bruce (January 2, 2021). "'How can you go wrong when you bet on nature?' — As his namesake park's land bridge becomes reality, former San Antonio Mayor Phil Hardberger looks back". San Antonio Express-News . Archived from the original on January 5, 2021. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  13. ↑ Ybarra, Gabreilla (July 18, 2021). "'The scientists said it would work': Wildlife spotted on Hardberger Park's land bridge". San Antonio Express-News . Archived from the original on November 18, 2021. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
  14. ↑ Rodriguez, Megan (November 18, 2021). "Ringtail and bobcat and armadillo — oh my! Guest list at Robert L.B. Tobin Land Bridge continues to grow". San Antonio Express-News . Archived from the original on November 19, 2021. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
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