April 12, 2024

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Today’s Forecast

🏗️ Water under the bridge

A rendering shows people walking along a pedestrian bridge over the water at dusk. In the background, tall structures with vines coverings are visible over a plaza-like shape.

The new Longhorn Dam Bridge will contain a central “floating plaza” with shade structures and seating. | Rendering via the City of Austin

Soon, the days of running alongside traffic over the Longhorn Dam will be a distant memory.

A new, wishbone-shaped pedestrian and bicycle bridge will soon connect the north and south shores of Lady Bird Lake in east Austin, with construction slated to begin as soon as this year. Here’s what you should know.

What will the bridge look like?

The three-pronged Longhorn Dam Bridge will connect Longhorn Shores, Holly Shores, and the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail that stretches over a peninsula on the north side of the lake. In total, the bridge will add 2,000 ft of walkway and contain a “floating plaza” at the center, complete with bike racks, benches, trees, public art, and shade structures.

An aerial map of the region in East Austin shows a three-pronged bridge with a central plaza. — This map from the City of Austin outlines the shape of the pedestrian bridge, as it will be seen from above.
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Image via the City of Austin

But wait, there’s more. In addition to the bridge, this project will:

Replace the underpass under Pleasant Valley Road with a wider, well-lit underpass
Add landscaping and parking improvements along Canterbury Street
Remove the existing bridge between the peninsula and Holly Shores

The project recently received $4.12 million in federal grant money, but the total cost for the project has yet to be released. However, voters approved a transportation bond in 2020 that set aside $20 million for this project.

A rendering shows people on bikes and on foot either emerging from or entering a sloped, half-moon shaped pedestrian tunnel with lighting illuminating the sides. — The Longhorn Dam Bridge project also involves replacing the pedestrian underpass under Pleasant Valley Road.
|
Rendering via the City of Austin

What’s the timeline?

This bridge has been in the works since 2018, but appears to be headed into the home stretch of becoming a reality.

With design, permitting, and bidding processes now complete, the project will move to Austin City Council for review as soon as next week. Once it is given the green light, construction could begin this winter, with completion currently scheduled for 2026.

Asked

How often do you use the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail?

A. Almost every day
B. At least once per week
C. Fewer than six times per year
D. Never

Let us know

Events

Friday, April 12

“Cultural Exchange Rate” | Now-Sunday, April 14 | Times vary | Texas Performing Arts Rehearsal Room, 2350 Robert Dedman Dr., Austin | $35 | In this interactive live art project, artist Tania El Khoury shares family memoirs of life in a border village between Lebanon and Syria.
An evening with Rickie Lee Jones | Friday, April 12 | 7-10:30 p.m. | The 04 Center, 2701 S. Lamar Blvd., Austin | $45 | See the Grammy-winning “Pieces of Treasure” artist performing with longtime friend Russ Titelman.

Saturday, April 13

Pollinator Day | Saturday, April 13 | 11 a.m.-2 p.m. | Texas Science & Natural History Museum, 2400 Trinity St., Austin | Free with admission | Bring the kids to learn about pollinator gardens, make wildflower seed balls, and meet some native insects.
“A Year With Frog and Toad” | Saturday, April 13-Sunday, May 12 | 2-3 p.m. | ZACH Theatre, 202 S. Lamar Blvd., Austin | $19-$38 | Kiddos will love this performance based on the beloved Arnold Lobel book.

Sunday, April 14

ABC Kite Festival | Sunday, April 14 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Zilker Park Great Lawn, 2100 Barton Springs Rd., Austin | Free | This beloved local festival has been entertaining and bringing Austinites together for almost a century.
Austin Archives Bazaar | Sunday, April 14 | 12-4 p.m. | Scholz Garten and Saengerrunde Hall, 1607 San Jacinto Blvd., Austin | Free | Meet with experts to learn about preserving family treasures, peruse collections from 24+ local archives, and try a DIY cyanotype station.

Plan Ahead

Amplify LIVE | Thursday, April 18 | 6-9:30 p.m. | Historic Scoot Inn, 1308 E. 4th St., Austin | $35-$250 | Ben Kweller, Kalu and The Electric Joint, and THEBROSFRESH will perform at this concert benefiting local nonprofit I Live Here I Give Here.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Coming Soon

Hawkers Asian Street Food, a Florida-based chain that sells Southeast Asian street food, will open at the Domain by early 2025. The restaurant will be located at 3309 Esperanza Crossing and serve roti canai, Korean fried chicken wings, and fried rice dishes. (Eater Austin)

Number

8,000. That’s how many pounds of trash were removed from Lady Bird Lake and surrounding areas last year during the annual Earth Day Lake and Land Clean Up. This year’s event will take place Friday, April 21 — sign up to volunteer.

List

The Loren at Lady Bird Lake was included in Esquire’s list of the 41 Best New Hotels in North America and Europe. The 108-room hotel was lauded for its skyline restaurant, Nido, and floor-to-ceiling hotel room windows.

Announced

Riley Green, Walker Hayes, and Kelsey Hart will perform a free daytime show at the Moody Center plaza ahead of the iHeartCountry Festival on Saturday, May 4. The nighttime event will also feature shows from Ashley McBryde and Jason Aldean — get tickets.

Real Estate

Endeavor Real Estate Group acquired the office building at 5000 Plaza on the Lake earlier this month. The building — which was last appraised at $36 million — is three stories tall, was recently renovated, and overlooks the Pennybacker Bridge. (Austin Business Journal)

Now Open

A speakeasy-style cocktail bar with a hidden entrance and three-dimensional wall art is now open at 120 E. 7th St., in the former Slake Cafe space. Retail Therapy offers fashion-inspired drinks, plus classic beverages. (Eater Austin)

Sports

What are the top 10 Longhorn high school recruits under Steve Sarkisian? Get the biggest stories every day from the local experts of the Texas Longhorns with Locked On’s daily podcasts.

Travel

Whether you’re starting or ending your trip to Bat City, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport offers travelers a taste of Austin’s vibrant culinary scene. From mouth-watering barbecue and homemade ice cream to tacos, there’s something for everyone. Plan your foodie foray.*

The Buy

A ClassPass membership, which lets you use multiple local gyms, fitness studios, and spas with just one membership. We like: Getting 14 days free when you sign up — meaning you can finally see if that gym you’ve been eyeing is worth it.

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
London

From the editor

The Kite Festival is one of my fiancé's and my favorite Austin events (and our pup loves to join, too).

If you spot us flying our modestly small kite among the many breathtakingly huge + ornate ones this weekend, come say hello.

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