The Confluence

Some highlights of The Confluence include:

• Stabilization of the creek banks and improved water quality from 4^th St. to Lady Bird Lake.
• Improved access to nature along a restored Waterloo Greenway.
• Three lattice bridges providing new east-west pedestrian connections over Waller Creek.
• A continuous, elevated walkway connecting Palm Park to Rainey St. and the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail.
• A new Lagoon Overlook and Leaf Deck adjacent to the lake.
• The shaded, family-friendly Lakeview Terrace and Explorers Garden.
• A new connection to the creek at 4^th St. with the Cypress Grove and Trailhead Plaza.

Construction Status

January 2025: The Hartman Bridge along the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail opened to trail users January 27. Construction continues on improvements between 4th Street and Lady Bird Lake.

Vision

The vision for The Confluence includes: 

• Sustainable SITES Initiative certification, which recognizes projects that use nature-based solutions to increase resiliency
• A restored creek habitat that integrates green water quality infrastructure 
• Approximately one mile of new and improved trails, including a creek-level trail and elevated boardwalk. 

Location 

The Confluence is shown in green on this map.

Construction Impacts

• Work will be between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. on weekdays and potentially some weekends.
• A portion of Palm Park will be closed during construction for a staging area. The playground, picnic tables, and stone shelter house are outside of the staging area.
• Part of 3rd St. will be closed, including the sidewalk near the Convention Center pond. 
• Fencing will be installed around active construction and staging areas. Additional staging and storage will be at:
  • The Waller Creek Tunnel inlet facility between 4th and 5th Streets
  • On the west bank of Waller Creek, south of Cesar Chavez
  • The Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center parking lot. This parking lot is currently closed to the public for the ESB-MACC Phase 2 Improvement Project.
• There will be temporary traffic controls near access points.
• Impacts to the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail will be coordinated with The Trail Conservancy and communicated to the public. 
• A public trail that connects Cesar Chavez to the Butler Hike and Bike Trail will be closed for the duration of the project. The trail is next to the Lakeside Apartments.
• You may notice trucks, equipment, dust, and noise.

Timeline 

The project is currently in the construction phase. Construction for this project began in May 2023 and is expected to be completed in 2026. 

Please note that as in any construction project, schedules are projected as accurately as possible. All dates are subject to change due to the nature of construction and the weather. 

Cost

The total construction cost, including contingencies, is $85 million dollars.

The Confluence is funded by:

• The Waterloo Greenway Conservancy has committed $12.5 million dollars towards the project.
• The City of Austin funding totals over $62 million. It comes from the Tax Increment Financing Zone No. 17 fund and multiple departments, including Watershed Protection, Parks and Recreation, Development Services, Austin Energy, Convention Center, and Austin Water. The Tax Increment Financing Zone only uses funds generated from the increased property values and property taxes within a portion of the Waller Creek District.
• The project has received approximately $11 million in federal funding from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.  

Boards and Commissions 

The project team reports to the following boards and commissions: 

• Waller Creek Local Government Corporation 
• Environmental Commission 
• Parks and Recreation Board 
• Mexican American Cultural Center Advisory Board 
• Design Commission 
• Tax Increment Financing Zone No. 17 Board 

Documents

• Public Meeting Presentation, April 2023
• Recording of Virtual Meeting, April 2023
• News Release, January 2023

Email Updates 

Email Joan Esquivel to receive future email updates about the project. 

Contacts  

• Main Point of Contact: Ana Seivert, Capital Delivery Project Manager, Capital Delivery Services Department, 512-974-3566, Email Ana Seivert
• Project Sponsor: Melissa Carugati, PMP | Project Manager, Watershed Protection Department, 512-974-8082, Email Melissa Carugati
• Project Sponsor: Lana Denkeler, Project Manager, Parks and Recreation Department, 512-974-9414, Email Lana Denkeler