Austin’s core trail system around Lady Bird Lake has several confirmed updates across art, infrastructure, and access. Below is a concise, fact-driven breakdown of what has changed and where.
TL;DR
New TEMPO public art installations added at 5 major trail locations
Butler Shores renovation complete, detours removed
Barton Springs Pool reopened
Wishbone Bridge now open, completing the ~10-mile loop
Trail usage remains high at ~2.6 to 5 million annual visits (average over 7,000 daily users)
New Public Art Along the Trail (TEMPO Program Expansion)
Austin continues to lean into its identity as a creative city, and the trail is becoming a rotating outdoor
New TEMPO Art Installations (2026)
According to The Trail Conservancy TEMPO program, new temporary public art installations have been placed at:
Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge (north side)
Lamar Blvd Bridge (south side, underpass)
First Street Bridge (north side)
I-35 Bridge (south side, underpass)
Unity Tunnel near Longhorn Dam
Program context and stats:
TEMPO has installed 30+ site-specific works since launch
Installations typically remain for 1 year rotations
Program focuses on high-traffic trail zones with heavy pedestrian counts
Butler Shores Trail Renovation Complete
Renovation near Butler Shores is finished
Temporary reroute onto Toomey Road has been eliminated
Barton Springs Pool Reopened
Barton Springs Pool is fully reopened. After a much needed removal of the skimmer bypass that was built in the 1940s. There was a skimmer bypass built in the 1970s that is still in use.
Key stats:
Spring-fed pool maintains a constant ~68–70°F year-round
Attracts 800,000+ visitors annually
Located directly off one of the highest-traffic trail access points
Wishbone Bridge Opens, Loop Completed
Wishbone Bridge is now open near Longhorn Dam
Completes the full loop of the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail
Key stats:
Total loop length: ~10 miles
Trail sees 2.6+ million visits annually
One of the most used urban trails in Texas
Summary
5 new art installation zones added through TEMPO
Major south-side construction bottleneck removed
Key recreational anchor (Barton Springs) restored
Continuous 10-mile loop now fully operational