Northaven Trail Bridge
A safer, more beautiful way to cross US 75—linking North Dallas into the region’s growing trail network.
WHAT THIS BRIDGE DOES
The Northaven Trail Bridge spans the eight lanes of US 75 (Central Expressway) to create a safe connection between the Northaven Trail (west) and the Cottonwood Creek + White Rock Creek trail systems (east). It was delivered as a signature project designed to reduce barriers to biking and walking while adding an iconic element to the Dallas skyline.
FAST FACTS
How the bridge was built and placed—at a glance.
A ONE-OF-A-KIND DESIGN
The bridge is a network-tied arch—think of the deck “tying” the ends of the arch together, like the string on a bow. What makes Northaven exceptional is the combination of a doubly-curved deck and skewed supports, a geometry that helped fit the bridge to the site’s angled, offset conditions and eliminated the need for a center support column in the highway median.
HNTB (engineer of record) notes the cable arrangement was designed to significantly increase stiffness, helping the bridge remain resilient even under accidental overload scenarios. The result is both elegant and highly efficient structurally.
BUILT OFF-SITE, MOVED INTO PLACE FAST
To minimize long-term disruption on a major urban corridor, the bridge was pre-assembled near the site and then moved into position using accelerated bridge construction (ABC) methods. TxDOT describes an approach that assembled the deck, arch, and cable system together before moving the structure into place for final set on the piers—requiring a concentrated weekend effort rather than months of repeated lane closures.
HNTB describes the move using self-propelled modular transports (SPMTs) and bridge gantries to pivot and set the bridge in its final position with limited traffic impacts.
WATCH IT HAPPEN
The installation is one of those rare infrastructure moments that’s genuinely fun to watch—especially in time-lapse. Below are the official move/installation videos, plus Friends of Northaven Trail drone footage.
TXDOT MOVE + INSTALLATION
2023 CONSTRUCTION + OPENING PHOTOS
WHY IT MATTERS FOR DALLAS TRAIL CONNECTIVITY
Before the bridge, crossing US 75 here meant a detour and a less-comfortable underpass experience. The bridge creates a direct, welcoming connection between multiple heavily used trail systems, making it easier to bike, walk, and roll between neighborhoods and regional destinations.
Northaven Trail
SoPac Trail (coming)
Because there are “five” trails connected by this bridge and the bridge is just south of the High Five bridge, this bridge has been nicknamed the “Low Five”.
PROJECT PARTNERS
The project was delivered through a collaboration led by TxDOT with engineering/design by HNTB and construction by Ragle, Inc., with additional heavy-move expertise described in engineering coverage of the project.
BRIDGE FAQ
HOW MUCH WEIGHT CAN THE BRIDGE HOLD?
HNTB reports the bridge has a structural weight of about 800,000 pounds and is designed for a pedestrian loading of roughly one person per square foot, described as approximately 445,000 pounds of pedestrian load across the deck. (Like most pedestrian bridges, it is designed around distributed pedestrian loading rather than a “vehicle weight limit” sign.)
WHAT MAKES THIS BRIDGE UNUSUAL?
It’s a network-tied arch with a doubly-curved deck and skewed supports, a combination that TxDOT and HNTB describe as a first-of-its-kind configuration.
WHY DOESN’T IT HAVE A SUPPORT COLUMN IN THE HIGHWAY MEDIAN?
The design is supported by the arch and cable system from above, allowing the bridge to span the highway without a center column—important in a corridor with heavy daily traffic volume.
HELP US KEEP IMPROVING THE TRAIL
The bridge is a huge connectivity milestone—now we’re focused on making the trail experience safer, more welcoming, and more nature-rich on both sides of US 75.