Wishbone Bridge and Unity Underpass Project
City Council District 3
Project Summary
Austin Transportation and Public Works partnered with Austin Parks and Recreation 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 provides an alternate option to the sidewalk on Pleasant Valley Road and fills a gap on the Butler Trail. This project began construction in early July 2024 and is was completed in Winter 2026. A ribbon-cutting celebration was held on February 7, 2026 at 100 S. Pleasant Valley Rd. For more detailed information on the project, visit the 2020 Austin Mobility Bond webpage on the Longhorn Dam Improvements.
Project Description
In 2018, Austin Public Works and Transportation 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
Project Timeline
- Fall 2018: Community Engagement
- Summer 2020: Preliminary Engineering Report
- Spring 2021: Interim Sidewalk Improvements
- Summer 2021: Design and Permitting
- Winter 2024: Bidding
- Summer 2024: Construction Initiated
- Winter 2026: Construction Complete
Communications and Engagement
- November 13, 2018, Public Meeting 1
- June 10, 2019, Public Meeting 2
- December 10, 2019 Open House and Survey
Contact Information
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
Beth Larkin, Project Manager, Austin Parks and Recreation Liaison by email, or 512-974-9513