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 on December 11, 2020.[1] The project cost $23 million and is designed for both wildlife and pedestrians. Construction began on November 26, 2018,[2] and was originally expected to end in April 2020.[3]

Robert L.B. Tobin Land Bridge
Coordinates29°33′31.5″N 98°31′29.8″W
CrossesWurzbach Parkway
Named forRobert L.B. Tobin
Websitephilhardbergerpark.org/land-bridge
Characteristics
Total length189 feet (58 m)
Width150 feet (46 m)
History
Construction startNovember 26, 2018
Construction endDecember 11, 2020
Construction cost$23 million
Location

Design

At 189 feet (58 m) long and 150 feet (46 m) wide,[4] it is the largest wildlife bridge in the United States as of December 2020.[5] With 8-foot (2.4 m) tall, noise damping corten steel walls on both sides, the bridge is designed to appear to crossers as a small hill.[6][7] The bridge has a 250,000-US-gallon (950,000 L) underground cistern to keep the bridge's plants irrigated via rainwater.[8]

On April 5, 2021, a footbridge called the Skywalk opened which starts at the top of the land bridge and winds through the park's trees.[9][10]

Animals using the bridge

Although animals had already been spotted crossing the bridge as of early 2021,[6] wildlife traffic is not expected to substantially increase until the foliage planted on the bridge grows thicker.[11]

As part of a five-year study, the Parks and Recreation Department documents wildlife using the bridge. As of November 2021, species include the Virginia opossum, cottaintail rabbit, white-tailed deer, coyote, rock squirrel, fox squirrel, rat, raccoon, armadillo, bobcat, gray fox, and axis deer.[12][13]

See also

References
  1. 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.
  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. 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.
  5. Ruiz, Elizabeth (December 11, 2020). "Largest land bridge in the United States opens in San Antonio's North Side". KTSA. Archived from the original on December 12, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
  9. 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.
  10. 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.
  11. 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.
  12. 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.
  13. 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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