Published on: June 17, 2025
Safe Maintenance on the Robert Tobin Land Bridge with Kee Line Lifelines
Challenge: Ensuring worker safety during maintenance of elevated landscape over a busy parkway.
Solution: Custom-designed and installed Kee Line® Horizontal Lifeline systems for fall restraint.
Benefits: OSHA/ANSI safety, efficient maintenance, and a non-obtrusive solution for a unique structure.
Project Overview
Flexible Lifeline Systems (FLS) partnered with SpawGlass, a long-standing collaborator, to provide an essential safety solution for the Robert Tobin Land Bridge at Phil Hardberger Park in San Antonio, Texas. This project involved the design and installation of Kee Line® Horizontal Lifeline systems, ensuring the safety of maintenance crews working in a challenging, elevated environment. The Robert Tobin Land Bridge, opened in December 2020, is the largest land bridge in the United States, spanning 165 feet wide and nearly 200 feet long. It serves as a vital connection over Wurzbach Parkway, promoting safe passage for both animals and pedestrians.
The Hazard
The Robert Tobin Land Bridge features unique giant metal barriers that provide passive fall protection for animals and pedestrians. However, these barriers create a narrow, elevated space, less than 10 feet wide, between the barriers and the unprotected edge of the bridge, 20 feet over traffic. This confined area, landscaped with native plants, requires regular maintenance. The primary hazard for maintenance crews is the risk of falls into the busy Wurzbach Parkway below, making personal fall protection a critical concern.
The Solution
FLS designed, engineered, and installed six individual KeeLine lifeline systems along the Robert Tobin Land Bridge. Each system was specifically designed to support up to three users in fall restraint, preventing them from reaching the unprotected edge. The unique metal barrier of the bridge proved to be an ideal attachment structure for the Kee Line® Horizontal Lifeline systems, ensuring a secure and effective solution without compromising the aesthetic or structural integrity of the bridge. This project further solidified the long-standing relationship between FLS and SpawGlass, with over 10 successful collaborations dating back to 2009.
The Benefits
The implementation of the Kee Line® Horizontal Lifeline systems on the Robert Tobin Land Bridge provides several key benefits:
- Enhanced Worker Safety: The primary benefit is the significant enhancement of worker safety, eliminating the risk of falls into oncoming traffic during essential maintenance tasks.
- Operational Efficiency: Landscaping crews can now safely and efficiently perform their work in the narrow space, focusing on their tasks without the added stress of fall hazards.
- Tailored for Unique Structures: The project demonstrates the adaptability of Kee Line systems to unique and challenging structures, providing a robust fall protection solution where traditional methods might not be feasible.
- Strengthened Partnership: This project further strengthens the enduring partnership between FLS and SpawGlass, showcasing their continued collaboration on critical infrastructure projects.
