Trail Detours
Here are any impacts to the Ann & Roy Butler Trail that could cause detours or slowdowns in your daily route.
Starting August 4, 2025, there will be a minor Trail detour between South First Street and South Congress Avenue lasting approximately 2 weeks due to the One Lady Bird Lake project construction. Please slow down in this area and use caution.
The detour, located along the south side of East Avenue, is designed to balance safety and accessibility without crossing traffic. This detour is expected to remain in place throughout the project’s duration, with an anticipated completion date of 2033. Key features include:
- A 14-foot-wide path, aligned with recommendations from the Butler Trail Safety & Mobility Study
- Decomposed granite surfacing on sections to reflect the Trail’s existing character, with permanent concrete where existing infrastructure allows (e.g., under the north side of I-35 bridge)
- Route planning that prioritizes preserving existing trees where possible
- Safety fencing around active construction areas, including a 6-foot chain-link fence around the dock and TxDOT right of way
Vehicular traffic on East Avenue will remain two-way, but some on-street parking adjacent to the construction site will be restricted. The boat ramp west of I-35, near the Holiday Inn, will be reserved for emergency vehicle access only.
Construction Timeline (subject to change due to conditions and weather)
September 15, 2025 – Parking lot under the I-35 bridge (north shore of Lady Bird Lake) closes
Late September/Early October 2025 – Detour west of I-35 opens (construction expected to take 3 weeks)
Late November/Early December 2025 – Detour east of I-35 opens following construction in November
There will be an 18-month detour to the Butler Trail during this construction time that will direct Trail users across Pleasant Valley Rd and back again at two locations and along the east side of the bridge. The detour will continue along Canterbury St. to Pedernales and connect to the Trail. Both crossings at Pleasant Valley Rd will be at pedestrian hybrid beacons.
Use Willow St. instead of Canterbury St. for your east/west travel on the Butler Trail. Willow St. is one street to the north of Canterbury (not the alley). This is due to utility work being completed on Canterbury St.
Expect this detour shift to last through 5/1/25.
The Butler Trail detour will be moved back to the west side of Pleasant Valley Rd for two weeks. Please slow down and be cautious of work in this area on top of the Longhorn Dam
The Longhorn Dam – Wishbone Bridge construction project will have a new detour route starting on or around December 17, 2024. All Trail users will need to use the designated sidewalks on the east side of Pleasant Valley Rd. The unpaved area just west of Pleasant Valley Rd. between the bridge and the southern detour will no longer be open as the west side of the bridge will be closed. Please follow the signs and use the detour as noted for your safety. The Butler Trail detour will be moved back to the west side of Pleasant Valley Rd for two weeks. Please slow down and be cautious of work in this area on top of the Longhorn Dam.
In May 2018, a slope failure occurred during a flooding event on a section of the Barton Creek streambank adjacent to the Ann and Roy Butler Trail, opposite Lou Neff Point. Approximately 230 linear feet of the streambank slope was affected. The Watershed Protection and Parks and Recreation Departments and The Trail Conservancy are working together to provide solutions to stabilize the slope and protect the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail at this location.Â
The Watershed Protection Department is managing and funding this project. You can find more information about the project here. Watershed will issue the Notice to Proceed to the contractor in early October 2024. This project is expected to be completed in the summer of 2025, depending on the weather. During this construction period, a detour will be in place for Watershed’s contractors to work on the bank stabilization project. The detour will utilize:
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- the new spur trail that the Austin Parks Department is building now in collaboration with Watershed,Â
- separated and safe paths along Toomey Rd, and
- delineated paths by the baseball fields.
There will be a person with a flag near Toomey, and periodically, bicyclists and pedestrians may need to stop briefly to allow construction traffic to cross the detour path. Â
