Colorado River Bridge at Bastrop
Why it's listed
This 1,285-foot bridge carries Loop 150 over the Colorado River in Bastrop, Texas. Three identical riveted steel Parker through trusses, each 192 feet long, cross the river channel on tapered concrete piers, and long concrete approaches with Y-shaped pier bents extend from the west end. Completed in 1923 and opened in January 1924, it replaced an iron toll bridge built in 1890. Bastrop County financed its share through road bonds, the Kansas City Bridge Company built it, and R.E. Schiller served as resident engineer. The design reflects the influence of State Bridge Engineer G.G. Wickline and is one of the earliest surviving uses of the Parker truss in Texas. The crossing lies on the old Camino Real route that shaped Bastrop's settlement and later on the Houston-Austin route. It was listed for its role in transportation and as an example of early highway engineering in Texas. A wooden walkway has been added on the north side.
Significance in brief: The bridge is the second crossing at this site and continues a historic route, the Camino Real or Old San Antonio Road, that was central to Bastrop's growth. It is also an early surviving example of Parker truss use in Texas and of work by the early Texas State Highway Department. It meets Criterion A for Transportation and Criterion C for Engineering.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 90001031, listed July 19, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | SR 150 over the Colorado R., Bastrop |
|---|---|
| County | Bastrop County |
| Listed | July 19, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90001031 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | 1923-1940 |
| Architect / builder | R.E. Schiller/G.G. Wickline; The Kansas City Bridge Company |
| Architectural style | Other: Parker Through Truss |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Transportation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as part of state highway Loop 150, providing access to downtown Bastrop from Highway 71. The north-side balustrade has been removed and a walkway added. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 30.10516, -97.32293 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Sites (archaeological sites, battlefields, landscapes) are often listed with a restricted address to protect them from looting or disturbance. Listing is honorary for private owners; federal undertakings on or near the site go through Section 106 review, and state laws may protect burials and artefacts regardless of listing.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 90001031.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5148889
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.