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  is now complete and open to the public! City Council District 3

Latest Update

 A ribbon-cutting celebration was held on February 7th, 2026!  The bridge, trail and underpass are now open to the public. 

Ribbon Cutting Photos

Left: Mayor Kirk Watson, joined by Congressmen Lloyd Doggett and Greg Casar, and several Austin Council Members cut the ribbon opening the new Wishbone bridge to the public. Right: An aerial photo of a crowd on the Wishbone Bridge over Ladybird Lake.

 

photo of art in the new underpass

 

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 

Aerial illustrative of bridge layout and design

 

Illustrative perspective of the bridge

 

Illustrative perspective of underpass tunnel

 

Project History and 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
  • April 2021, Interim sidewalk improvements
  • Summer 2021 to Fall 2023, Design and Permitting
  • Winter 2024, Bidding
  • July 2024, Construction Initiation
  • February 2026, Construction Completion and Ribbon Cutting Celebration

Contact 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