Austin Public Works and Austin Transportation have partnered to complete a transformational sidewalk project on Exposition Boulevard this month. The new improvements extend from Bonnie Road to West 35th Street and include new and repaired sidewalks, curb ramps, pedestrian crossings, and intersection safety improvements. This work completes a fully ADA-accessible route on either side of Exposition Boulevard from Lake Austin Boulevard all the way to West 35th Street. The improvements also create a safer route for students to walk or bike to nearby Casis Elementary School and O. Henry Middle School and safer access for everyone to neighborhood day care centers, libraries, churches, stores, and parks.
“Every child should be able to walk or bike to school safely,” said Mayor Pro Tem Alison Alter of Council District 10, where these safety and mobility improvements are located. “While these safe routes are created for students and families, the improvements benefit everyone who walks, bikes, or rolls in the neighborhood.”
The project installed:
More than 15,000 linear feet (3 miles) of new or rehabilitated sidewalks
Nine pedestrian crossing improvements along Exposition Boulevard, Westover Road, and Hillview Road, including the installation of seven new pedestrian crossing islands
Over 40 curb ramps repaired or installed
More than 1,000 feet of new curb and gutter
An intersection reconfiguration at Bridle Path and Exposition Boulevard to close a slip lane and replaced pavement with vegetation. This creates a safer bicycle and pedestrian route through Exposition Boulevard
An eight-foot-wide shared use path on the west side of Exposition Boulevard from Gilbert Street to Bonnie Road
“For students to safely walk or bicycle to school they need well-designed, well-built, and well-maintained facilities,” said Assistant City Manager for Mobility Gina Fiandaca. “This project is an excellent example of how our Safe Routes to School program creates safer pedestrian routes and bicycle improvements near our schools. I’m very proud of the coordination between our mobility programs to build impactful mobility and safety improvements for Austin’s youth, their families, and our community.”
The project was managed by Austin Public Works’ Sidewalk Program, designed by Austin Transportation’s Street Design team, and was delivered through an indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract. Construction began in June of 2021. The project cost approximately $2 million and was jointly funded by voter-approved 2016 and 2018
View photos and video of the completed projects along Exposition Blvd.
