Trail Detours
Here are any impacts to the Ann & Roy Butler Trail that could cause detours or slowdowns in your daily route.
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
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
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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.
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.
September 29 Update: The sidewalk across the bridge on the west side of Pleasant Valley Rd is opening up again on October 8, 2025. The Butler Trail detour will still remain in place down Canterbury St. until completion of the project later this year.
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
