Wishbone Bridge opens to pedestrians at Lady Bird Lake as Congress Avenue work continues

March 21, 2026

City crews have opened the Wishbone Bridge to pedestrians at Lady Bird Lake, providing a new crossing for people on foot and on bikes. The bridge connects trail segments along the lake and offers an alternate route for those traveling between east and west banks.

Construction continues along Congress Avenue as the downtown corridor undergoes a redesign, and crews remain active on the project. Work on Congress Avenue has kept parts of the street and sidewalks impacted, affecting how people move through the area and access nearby businesses.

The Wishbone Bridge opening arrives while the Congress Avenue project is still underway, meaning both changes are shaping central Austin circulation at once. People who use the lake trails or commute through the downtown corridor may notice different routing, temporary signage, and shifted pedestrian paths.

Officials and contractors have kept construction zones in place on Congress Avenue while the bridge opened, so users should remain aware of typical worksite safety measures. The new pedestrian crossing provides an additional option for avoiding some of the immediate impacts caused by the avenue work, particularly for those who prefer to travel by foot or bike.

The two projects reflect concurrent investments in central Austin transportation and connectivity around Lady Bird Lake and the downtown spine. Residents and visitors can use the Wishbone Bridge to cross the lake, while crews continue phased work on Congress Avenue that will alter vehicle and pedestrian patterns until the redesign is complete.

People should look for project updates, posted detours, and temporary access changes as construction on Congress Avenue progresses. Using the new bridge may ease some local foot and bike traffic, but travelers should plan for ongoing work in the downtown corridor.