A proposal calling for the construction of a pedestrian bridge over a series of railroad tracks in downtown Albuquerque has advanced to the city’s Development Commission.
What is being called the Springer Square Sky Link will see a sleek and modern bridge for foot traffic built between the Albuquerque Convention Center and a space called Springer Square, which is dominated by the historic brick Springer Building.
As proposed by the Albuquerque boutique development company Zydeco 66, the project will also relocate existing parking spaces into a larger parking structure, and in so doing will connect employees working in Springer Square offices with the secured parking structure.
Railroad track pedestrian bridge crossings are increasingly being seen as efficient foot traffic alternatives primarily in urban areas, with recent structures either planned or going up in such cities as Chicago, Portland, and Boston.
According to city documents, the Springer Square Sky Link, also providing new parking space, will open up space for “additional mixed-use developments that may include residential, retail, and hospitality.”
With an estimated total construction cost of $9.6 million, the project is seeking a $1 million grant via the Albuquerque Development Commission.
If all of the funding for the project can be secured, work on the Springer Square Sky Link could begin in late 2021, with a rough completion date of late 2022.
By Garry Boulard
