West 24th St. bridge, south side of the bridge
The arched fascia wall and decorative railing of the bridge
Description
On October 27, 1938, the City of Austin accepted an aid package from the Public Works Administration for the construction of bridges and extensions of storm sewers not to exceed $132,300. One of the projects the city used the money for was to widen the bridge on West 24th Street over Shoal Creek.
The original concrete bridge was built in 1928. By the mid-1930s, the narrow bridge was no longer adequate for the cars traveling between downtown and the new suburbs west of Shoal Creek. In order to widen the original bridge, the abutments and piers were extended to support new concrete girders on each side. Arched fascia walls were placed on the outside of the new bridge to retain the appearance of the original arch.
On December 15, 1938, the city accepted a bid of $22,368.75 from J.F. Johnson for the job. The job was accepted as completed on April 6, 1939. The city installed a brass plate on the bridge to acknowledge the contribution of the PWA.
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A bronze plaque provided by the City of Austin recognizing the PWA is mounted on the bridge railing.
24th St. Bridge PWA Plaque
A bronze plaque provided by the City of Austin recognizing the PWA is mounted on the bridge railing.
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The underside of the bridge shows the arch of the original bridge and the new girders on each side.
View from the Creek
The underside of the bridge shows the arch of the original bridge and the new girders on each side.
Source notes
Austin City Council Meeting Minutes - October 27, 1938 http://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=118464 Austin City Council Meeting Minutes - December 15, 1938 http://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=118471 Austin City Council Meeting Minutes - April 6, 1939 http://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=118494 Shoal Creek Bridges by Ted Lee Eubanks http://www.tedleeeubanksphotography.com/Client-Galleries/Shoal-Creek-Bridges/i-JPqFw3V
Project originally submitted by Larry Moore on May 8, 2014.
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