Dallas' Margaret McDermott Bridge Finally Open to Pedestrians and Cyclists

Overdue and over budget, infrastructure for pedestrian and people on bikes is finally available on the Margaret McDermott Bridge in Dallas.

1 minute read

June 14, 2021, 7:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Dallas, Texas

Paul Brady Photography / Shutterstock

"Residents in Dallas can finally walk up and take a closer look at the signature arches of the Margaret McDermott Bridge," reports Eline de Brujin. The bridge officially opened to pedestrians and people on bikes on June 10.

The bridge—designed by controversial but prolific architect Santiago Calatrava—opened to vehicle traffic in 2017 (Caltrava also designed the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge in Dallas). The delay in opening for pedestrians and people on bikes was caused by steel rods vibrating in high winds, according to an article by Jack Beavers from 2018. Thus, the big opening of the bridge for non-automotive modes was both overdue and over budget.

"The pedestrian portion of the bridge cost more than $90 million, funded by private donors and federal dollars, but in 2019, Dallas City Council approved a $7 million fix to replace steel rod cables of the arches that hold up the pedestrian bridge," according to de Brujin.

A separate article by Alex Macon, published by D Magazine in May, offers more details on this boon to pedestrian and people on bikes in Dallas.

Friday, June 11, 2021 in WFAA

Young Professional

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

Get top-rated, practical training for planners

Overlapping highways

The state-sanctioned urbicide of Austin

People don’t kill cities. Freeways do.

September 8, 2026 - Benjamin Schneider

The Hoover Dam blocking the Colorado River. The river's water level is noticeably low. The cliffs surrounding the blue water are brown and jagged.

US to reduce Colorado River water deliveries to Mexico

A new Colorado Treaty amendment reduces Mexico’s Colorado River water allocation by 250,000 acre feet.

September 11, 2026 - The Arizona Republic

Skyscrapers in Jersey City.

New Jersey’s second-largest city bans standalone data centers

Jersey City will continue to allow co-location facilities, such as those meant for research institutions that store their own data.

September 4, 2026 - The Cool Down

A New Jersey train approaches people waiting at the station.

Amtrak not solely to blame for New Jersey commuter rail's unreliability, report finds

A new study from the Garden State Initiative found that NJ Transit’s budget grew 20% across a 4 year period, but reliability declined significantly over the same period.

September 15 - Mass Transit

A tall, gray power plant billows smoke into a blue sky.

EPA erases limits on planet-warming pollution from power plants

Under Monday’s plan, power plants would still have some limits on how much mercury, arsenic and other contaminants they can emit.

September 15 - New York Times

A white RAPID bus. The lower half is light blue, and says RAPID in purple text. The bus is half visible, appearing from the left side of the image.

Phoenix announces new on-demand transit service, more frequent RAPID buses

Both new services will launch in October, and are part of Phoenix's Project Effective Access Solutions for Easing Congestion.

September 15 - KJZZ

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.