AUSTIN, Texas — Austinites will soon need to slow down and be prepared to stop as they approach Waller Creek on the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail.
The city of Austin said the second in a series of detours will soon be put in place so crews can construct new pedestrian bridges over Waller Creek and the Lagoon Overlook and Leaf deck for The Confluence, the second phase of the Waterloo Greenway.
The next detour is scheduled to start on Monday, Aug. 26, and last through October. The first detour started on Monday, July 22, and will remain in place until the second detour starts.
During this time, crews will be demolishing the existing pedestrian bridge, installing a third lattice bridge over Waller Creek and preparing a temporary creek crossing for a future detour route.
The second detour will route trail users over Waller Creek on the recently installed lattice bridge, varying from 8 to 12 feet in width. The city said the entire route will be fenced on either side and a section of it will be covered for overhead protection.
Cyclists will need to dismount and walk their bikes along parts of the detour, including the bridge, covered section and a sharp turn near the bridge. Pedestrians may need to periodically stop to allow construction traffic to cross the trail, but there will be a flagger and gates will keep trail users separate from vehicular traffic. Construction crews are set to work from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, with occasional work on the weekends.
The city noted there are also other, unrelated detours happening on the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail. Check out this full list of complete closures to learn more.
More about The Confluence
According to the city, The Confluence will include approximately 13 acres along Waller Creek from Fourth Street to Lady Bird Lake and will allow for a continuous, off-street bike and pedestrian tail between the Hike and Bike Trail and Fourth Street. The project also aims to stabilize the creek bank, improve water quality and provide access to nature.
Construction on The Confluence began in May of last year and is expected to be complete by the spring of 2026. The estimated construction cost, including contingencies, is $75 million and the project is funded by the city, the Waterloo Greenway Conservancy and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Among other things, The Confluence will include three lattice bridges; a continuous, elevated walkway connecting Palm Park to the Hike and Bike Trail; the new Lagoon Overlook and Leaf Deck adjacent to the lake; the Lakeview Terrace and Explorer's Garden; and a new connection to Waller Creek at Fourth Street with the Cypress Grove and Trailhead Plaza.
Boomtown is KVUE's series covering the explosive growth in Central Texas. For more Boomtown stories, head to KVUE.com/Boomtown.