West Fifth Street Bridge at Shoal Creek
historic place
The West Fifth Street Bridge at Shoal Creek is a historic place in Austin, Travis County. It was erected in 1931. This concrete cantilever girder bridge carries West Fifth Street across Shoal Creek. It was built to link central Austin with neighborhoods that were then the city's western suburbs. The bridge was designed by Hans R.F. Helland and constructed by John F. Johnson. Its construction was part of Austin's 1928 master plan for urban development and beautification, which aimed to build more bridges west and south of downtown. The plan also specified that new bridges should be made of concrete. The West Fifth Street Bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 3, 2019. This recognition highlights its unique design and its role in Austin's early city planning.