Paddock Viaduct

Paddock Viaduct is a road bridge spanning the Trinity River in Fort Worth, connecting downtown to the northern areas of the city using reinforced concrete arch construction. The structure serves as a major transportation corridor and displays the engineering approach typical of its era.

The viaduct was constructed in 1914 by the engineering firm Brenneke and Fay to replace an inadequate suspension bridge from the 1890s. This new structure represented a major advancement in connecting the city's different areas.

The bridge carries the name of B. B. Paddock, a key political figure in Fort Worth's early development whose influence shaped the city's infrastructure. Local residents view this crossing as a physical link to the city's formative period.

The bridge remains open year-round for both vehicle and pedestrian traffic crossing the river. Regular maintenance work has been performed over the decades to keep the structure safe and usable.

The bridge was groundbreaking for employing self-supporting reinforcing steel within its concrete arches, making it an early example of this construction technique in the country. This technical innovation distinguished it during an important period of bridge engineering development.