Residents will begin to see a brighter side of Congress Avenue, between Cesar Chavez Street and 11th Street, as lights will be installed on trees through the Congress Avenue Lights Project.
The project is funded by the Downtown Austin Alliance and includes lighting 136 trees every day of the year on the 11-block stretch of street. The project stemmed from the 2010 Congress Avenue Report and has been in the works for almost two years. The report focused on six factors the community would like to see improved on Congress Avenue, including outdoor dining; art, culture and theater; shopping; history and architecture; urban rail; and an exceptional pedestrian experience
"It's a really good street, and we want it to be an exceptional street." DAA Associate Director Molly Alexander said. "We want it to be an exceptional experience. It's the most important street in the entire state."
The project uses energy-efficient lights from Blachere Illumination, and installation began in August. By mid-November, DAA officials expect residents will start seeing functioning lights in the trees.
