| Regency Suspension Bridge | |
| Nearest City: | Regency, Texas |
| Coordinates: | 31.4103°N -98.8458°W |
| Map Label: | Regency Suspension Bridge |
| Locmap Relief: | yes |
| Architect: | Austin Bridge Company |
| Added: | December 12, 1976 |
| Area: | less than one acre |
| Refnum: | 76002052 |
| Designated Other2: | TSAL |
| Designated Other2 Date: | May 28, 1981 |
| Designated Other2 Number: | 8200000478 |
| Designated Other2 Num Position: | bottom |
The Regency Bridge, locally known as the "Swinging Bridge," is a one-lane suspension bridge over the Colorado River in Texas. It is located at the intersection of Mills County Road 433 and San Saba County Road 137, both gravel roads, near a small community called Regency. The bridge spans the Colorado River between Mills and San Saba counties.
The main span is long, but counting the approach spans, engineers list the bridge’s overall length at . The wooden deck of the bridge is wide. It was built in 1939, with most of the work being done by hand. An earlier bridge constructed in 1903 collapsed under the weight of a herd of cattle, and a later bridge built in 1936 washed away in a flood. The Regency Bridge was restored by James Harris in 1997, with then-Governor Bush attending the re-dedication service. This was a major event for the community of around 25 people.
Local teenagers accidentally set the wood surface on fire on December 29, 2003, burning a hole in some planks and causing $20,000 in damage. The bridge was repaired and reopened to traffic in early 2005. After closing in late 2014, the bridge is once again open to traffic.[1] After a closure in Sept 2020 due to structural damage, the bridge was re-opened to traffic in May 2021.[2]
In 2005, the Regency Bridge became the last suspension bridge in Texas open to automobile traffic.
A nearby historical marker, located on the southeast side of the intersection of FM 574 and Mills County Road 433 (which is just east of the intersection of FM 45 and FM 574) reads: