The Southern Gateway Public Green Foundation has formally commenced construction on a new bridge park, named Southern Gateway Park, in Southern Dallas, Texas, US.

This project will see the development of a bridge park spanning the Interstate 35E motorway in Southern Dallas between Ewing and Marsalis Avenues.

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) completed the bridge's design and associated infrastructure earlier this year, paving the way for the park’s construction later this month.

This five-acre 'park with a purpose' is hoped to promote the revitalisation of the community, environment, and economy in Oak Cliff and the wider region.

It is estimated that two million people will visit the park a year, resulting in more than $1bn in economic impact in the first five years of its opening.

Southern Gateway president and CEO April Allen said: “This generational project will lead to increased green space, significant economic development, and safer, healthier places to live and play.

“Every person, regardless of where they live, deserves to have beautiful amenities and public spaces where they feel welcome. That’s what motivates me every day to keep doing whatever it takes to make this vision a reality.”

The park is a public-private project between the TxDOT, the North Central Texas Council of Governments, the City of Dallas, and the Southern Gateway Public Green Foundation.

Global design company HKS and its team was enlisted to lead the design and engineering for the deck park. The team includes landscape architect SWA, among others.

A joint venture between McCarthy and EJ Smith Construction is leading the construction of the project, which is anticipated to be completed in 2025.