The Transportation and Public Works Department has partnered with the Parks and Recreation Department and Capital Delivery Services to develop a new pedestrian and bicycle bridge over Lady Bird Lake near the Longhorn Dam. Through community engagement, a "wishbone" shaped bridge was chosen to connect the Ann and Roy Butler Trail at Longhorn Shores, Canterbury and the Holly Peninsula in Town Lake Metropolitan Park. The bridge will provide an alternate option to the sidewalk on Pleasant Valley Road and fill a gap on the Butler Trail. This project began construction in early July 2024 and is anticipated to be complete in the summer of 2026. District 3

Project Detour Notice

Road closure sign

Traffic Closures for New Wishbone Bridge at Longhorn Dam

Traffic closures began Monday, August 5 as a part of the construction of the Longhorn Dam Multimodal Improvements Project. Lane closures and sidewalk detours will change during the project to accommodate workspace and construction areas as needed. Please follow the posted signs. 

For more information email CapitalDelivery@AustinTexas.gov or visit the Capital Delivery Services project webpage at Longhorn Dam Multimodal Improvements | Open Data | City of Austin Texas

Project Description

In 2018 the City of Austin Public Works and Transportation Department began work on a Preliminary Engineering Report to evaluate the possibility of a new pedestrian and bicycle bridge over Lady Bird Lake. More information on the preliminary report and community engagement that determined the final direction for the bridge can be found at Longhorn Dam Multimodal Improvements 

Aerial illustrative of bridge layout and design

 

Illustrative perspective of the bridge

 

Illustrative perspective of underpass tunnel

 

Construction will require the partial closure of sidewalks on Pleasant Valley. See the detour plan below. 

map of detour plan for the project

Project History and Anticipated Schedule

  • November 13, 2018, Public Meeting 1
  • June 10, 2019, Public Meeting 2
  • December 10, 2019 Open House and Survey
  • July 2020, Preliminary Engineering Report (Completed)
  • April 2021, Interim sidewalk improvements (Completed)
  • Summer 2021 to Fall 2023, Design and Permitting (Completed)
  • Winter 2024, Bidding (Completed)
  • July 2024 Construction Initiation
  • Spring, Summer 2026 Construction completion 

Please note that schedules are projected as accurately as possible, but all dates are subject to change due to the nature of construction and weather. 

Contract Information

For project questions, please contact:

Laurie Thering, Project Manager, Capital Delivery Services by email, or 512-974-7035

Robert Allen, Public Information Specialist, Capital Delivery Services by email, or 512-978-1698 or 

D'Anne Williams, Project Manager, Parks Department Liaison by email, or 512-974-9456