Trail Detours
Here are any impacts to the Ann & Roy Butler Trail that could cause detours or slowdowns in your daily route.
Big changes are coming to I-35 as part of TxDOT’s I-35 Capital Express Central Project. As demolition and construction begin on I-35, sections of the Butler Trail will periodically close, and detours will begin.Â
Detailed updates on Trail detours and resources for updated routes will be posted here when information is provided.
Heads up, Trail users—starting Friday, August 1, there will be limited access under the I-35 bridge on the north shore of Lady Bird Lake. This is due to construction work related to the Lady Bird Lake segment of the I-35 Capital Express Central Project.
We know: detours aren’t ideal. But don’t worry, the Trail is still open! You’ll just need to follow some temporary signs to navigate around the construction zone safely. Check out the map below to better understand the impacts.
Please stay alert, go slow, and share the trail as we all adjust to this new routing. Thank you for your patience as we work to ensure your Trail experience remains smooth and safe.
Want details or updates from TxDOT? Check out My35.
For questions or feedback, please contact Mical Roy at mroy-c@txdot.gov.Â
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
