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By Shari Biediger
A city panel on Wednesday signed off on a set of design concepts intended to improve sidewalks and streets leading to the historic Hays Street Bridge on the East Side.
The Historic and Design Review Commission signaled its approval for an engineering firm’s request to replace driveways, make accessibility and other kinds of modifications to sidewalks and driveways, and install new street lighting, multi-use trails, landscaping, and wayfinding signs.
The project was funded with $6.8 million in the 2022 bond with additional money provided by the San Antonio Water System and the city’s tree preservation program. It is expected to be completed in spring 2028.
Also in the plans are a retaining wall built between a pedestrian path and Austin Street as well as benches, waste bins, and dog waste stations installed throughout the area.
Arched overhead signs are planned at both ends of the bridge.
The improvements are being made in the northeastern quadrant of downtown and in the Dignowity Hill Historic District which includes several blocks west of the bridge and at least two blocks east of the bridge.
Named a historic district in 1983 for Dr. Anthony Michael Dignowity, the Eastside neighborhood known as Dignowity Hill was San Antonio’s first residential suburb. When the railroad was built in the area in 1877, industrial development moved in, changing the neighborhood and its demographic diversity.
The bridge was built in 1881 by the Phoenix Bridge Company over the Nueces River west of Uvalde for use by the railroad and later moved to San Antonio.
The improvement project extends to the roadways and rights of way, including Burleson and 10th Streets, North Hackberry and North Alamo Streets, Hays Street, Burnet and Brooklyn Streets, North Cherry and North Alamo Streets, Austin Street, West Jones and McCullough Avenues.
The modifications are designed to connect public parks in the area to the Hays Street Bridge and the San Antonio River Walk.
Florida-based WGI Engineering submitted the plans for approval on behalf of the City of San Antonio. TBG Partners designed the landscape architecture and signage for the project.
The project comes after half a dozen years of conflict over a proposed multi-family development in the vicinity of the bridge that resulted in a land swap and public input meetings to design a new park instead.
The Berkley V. and Vincent M. Dawson Park at 202 Lamar St. next to the Hays Street Bridge opened in December. It features two skate parks, green space, and a bridge plaza.
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