Austin officially opened the Wishbone Bridge at Longhorn Dam on February 7, 2026, with a ribbon cutting ceremony marking the completion of one of the most important missing links in the city’s trail network. The $25 million project connects the east and southeast segments of the Lady Bird Lake Trail, allowing pedestrians and cyclists to complete the full 10-mile loop without leaving the waterfront.
The bridge is both practical and symbolic. It solves a long-standing safety and access issue while reflecting how Austin’s relationship with the lake has evolved over the last 60 years.
TL;DR
The $25 million Wishbone Bridge officially opened February 7, 2026
Construction began in July 2024 and completed the 10-mile Lady Bird Lake loop
Two curved bridge legs are about 230 feet long with a 76-foot-wide central plaza
Includes a 130 ft long mural-lined tunnel under South Pleasant Valley Road
14 sculptural “Maraca” benches available for community sponsorship
Connects modern trail design with the historic Longhorn Dam corridor
What the Wishbone Bridge Is and Where It Sits
The Wishbone Bridge is a pedestrian and bicycle bridge located beside Longhorn Dam, carrying trail users safely across the Pleasant Valley Road area. Its name comes from its shape. Two gently curved bridge legs meet at a wide central plaza, creating a shared gathering space rather than a narrow pass-through.
Each leg measures approximately 230 feet, and the 76-foot-wide plaza allows people to stop, rest, and enjoy views of the lake without disrupting trail traffic.
Why This Connection Matters
For decades, this section of the trail forced users onto nearby roads and sidewalks, breaking the loop and creating safety concerns. That gap limited who could comfortably use the trail and interrupted what is otherwise one of Austin’s most continuous public spaces.
With the bridge open, users can now:
Walk, run, or bike the entire lake without detours
Stay separated from vehicle traffic
Move more easily between East Austin parks and downtown
Experience a consistent, uninterrupted trail system
This connection quietly changes how people move around central Austin.
@exploreatx The $25 Million Longhorn Dam Wishbone Bridge in Austin, TX is officially opening Feb 7 Ribbon cutting ceremony: February 7, 2026 at 10AM C... See more
Design, Art, and Public Space
Central Plaza
Unlike earlier trail bridges designed strictly for movement, the Wishbone Bridge includes a 76 foot wide plaza intentionally sized for lingering. This reflects a shift in how Austin designs trail infrastructure, treating it as civic space rather than just transportation. An ideal place for slack-liners or catching some of the biggest fish on Town lake.
Artistic Tunnel and Murals
Beneath South Pleasant Valley Road, the project includes a 130 ft long mosaic mural called “Unity Underpass”. Completed by over 200 local residents and artist Reginald C. Adams. There is 5,000 sqaure feet of mural space in the tunnel that is 30ft wide and 16ft tall. Using materials like glass, porcelain tiles, limestone, and ceramic.
Maraca Benches
The bridge features 31 sculptural “Maraca” benches along the trail, and 14 on the bridge which function as seating and public art. Sponsorship options include:
$30,000 for dedication in perpetuity
$15,000 for a 10-year dedication
These contributions support long-term maintenance and allow the community to invest directly in the space. The Trail Conservancy for more details.
Longhorn Dam and the Lake’s Deeper History
The bridge sits alongside one of Austin’s most influential infrastructure projects. Longhorn Dam was constructed between 1959 and 1960 by the Lower Colorado River Authority, creating what was originally called Town Lake.
The dam transformed the Colorado River through Austin by:
Controlling flooding
Stabilizing water levels
Enabling shoreline parks and recreation
Laying the groundwork for the hike and bike trail
The Wishbone Bridge represents a modern layer added to that legacy. Where the dam focused on utility and control, the bridge focuses on access, experience, and public life.
Who Was Behind the Project
City of Austin: Led planning, funding, and construction as part of its broader active transportation and trail strategy. Funds secured by the 2020 Mobility Bonds and $4.1M in Federal Grant.
The Trail Conservancy: Advocated for safer, more connected trail infrastructure and helped shape long-term vision for the lake.
Get There ATX: Supported the project through its mission to expand walking and biking as viable ways to move around Austin.
The project also incorporated extensive community input from trail users who had long identified this area as a priority.
What This Means for Austin’s Future
The Wishbone Bridge shows how Austin’s infrastructure priorities are changing. New projects are expected to:
Support non-car mobility
Improve safety without sacrificing design
Integrate art into everyday spaces
Strengthen connections between neighborhoods
More than anything, the bridge reinforces the idea that the lake is not just scenery. It is a backbone of public life in Austin.
Over time, the Wishbone Bridge will likely fade into the background of daily routines. People will jog across it, bike through it, meet friends on it, and rarely think about what used to be missing. That is exactly the point.
