What you need to know
Construction crews will be starting work on a series of new lattice bridges and overlooks for the second phase of the $75 million three-part Waterloo Greenway Conservancy project.
During construction, foot and bike traffic will be redirected through detours, with the first detour expected to last until the end of August.
Trail users can expect to see a temporary, 12-foot-wide crushed granite trail just east of the existing Waller Creek bridge, near the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center.
The temporary trail will have fencing on either side, and those using the trail will still continue to cross Waller Creek on the existing bridge.
Bicyclists and pedestrians are urged to use caution and slow down in the area, as traffic may need to stop for construction vehicles to cross the trail. A safety flagger will be on-site daily.
Work hours are Monday through Friday 7 a.m.-7 p.m., with occasional weekend work, a city of Austin news release states.
What’s new?
The second phase, known as The Confluence, will extend from Fourth Street to Lady Bird Lake. City documents state the 13-acre project will improve the ecology and water quality of Waller Creek, which is over 2,500 feet of waterway ending in Lady Bird Lake.
The entirety of the project will also create a continuous, off-street bike and pedestrian trail between the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike trail and Fourth Street.
Plans for Phase 2 include:
- 1,550 new trees planted
- 200,000 mature plants
- Three suspension bridges
- An 800-foot boardwalk under Cesar Chavez Street
- A biofiltration pond that uses organic filtration to remove pollutants and manage stormwater runoff
Looking back, looking ahead
Construction of The Confluence began in May 2023 and is expected to be completed by spring 2026. This phase of improvements is funded by the city of Austin, Waterloo Greenway Conservancy and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers:
- $9 million from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- Over $50 million from multiple city of Austin departments, including Watershed Protection, Parks and Recreation, Development Services, Austin Energy, Convention Center and Austin Water
Austinites should expect the creek and many of the trails along the creek between Fourth Street and Lady Bird Lake to be closed during construction. The western half of Palm Park will also be closed during construction; however, the existing playground will remain open. The Butler Trail across Waller Creek will remain open with temporary detours, according to Waterloo Greenway.
Residents can click here to receive construction updates and more information on how to get involved with the project.
One last thing
There are other trail detours also occurring along the Butler Trail related to construction of the Longhorn Dam Bridge. Keep up to date with a complete list of trail closures here.
