For immediate release: August 6, 2021 Contact:Jeff Stensland, (512) 974-8000
Longhorn Dam Bridge to close Saturday night
Crews to adjust traffic control setup in active construction zone
AUSTIN, Texas – Beginning this Saturday, August 7, 2021 at 10 p.m., Austin Transportation Department will close South Pleasant Valley Road to vehicular traffic in both directions at Longhorn Dam Bridge. Southbound traffic will be detoured to Cesar Chavez Street; Northbound traffic will be detoured to Lakeshore Boulevard to use I-35 as an alternate route to and from Southeast Austin. Alternatively, drivers can use US-183.
The road closure is anticipated to last approximately eight hours, with South Pleasant Valley Road reopening on Sunday, August 8, 2021 around 6 a.m. During this time, crews will adjust the traffic control set up on the bridge, so crews can begin the next phase of the Longhorn Dam bridge improvements project.
Pedestrian and bicycle access across the bridge will remain intact throughout the night.
This work is part of the 2016 Mobility Bond project to install near-term safety improvements to South Pleasant Valley Road from Cesar Chavez Street to Elmont Drive. The changes are intended to address crash patterns resulting in more than $46 million in comprehensive crash costs over the last five years.
Construction of the interim improvements began in January 2021. Future work will include a shared-use path on the west side of the bridge, additional markings, and signal enhancements. View a map of the project design.
In November 2020, Austin voters passed Proposition B, providing $102 million for major capital improvements, including a new “wishbone” bicycle and pedestrian bridge over Lady Bird Lake. Full design and construction of the new bridge is expected to take five years. Learn more at AustinTexas.gov/LonghornDam.
In collaboration with area partners, Austin Transportation Department leads our community’s Vision Zero goal of eliminating traffic deaths and serious injuries on Austin streets, the achievement of a 50/50 commute type split by 2039 as established in the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan, and actively seeks innovative solutions and piloting technology that can decrease the use of single-occupancy vehicles and improve safety through Austin Transportation Department's Smart Mobility Office. For details, please visit AustinTexas.gov/Transportation.
