Austin’s new Wishbone Bridge and mosaic art tunnel

Austin’s new Wishbone Bridge connects the Hike-and-Bike Trail on Lady Bird Lake and adds mosaic art and murals in a pedestrian tunnel.… Read More

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Austin’s Hike-and-Bike Trail users long wished for completion of a trail gap at the east end of Lady Bird Lake. That wish finally came true this year with the opening of the Wishbone Bridge and underpass at Pleasant Valley Road. I was curious about the Y-shaped bridge and mosaic-decorated tunnel, so one afternoon I headed to the lake.

Wishbone Bridge

The bridge’s 3-spoke design includes a central plaza with shade sails and benches — a perfect spot for people-watching on the water. The appealing design makes the bridge more than a passageway. It’s a destination in itself.

A lot of sun still gets through the shade sails and wire trellises for now.

But crossvine planted on the columns is scrambling up to cloak the wire roof. Give it a couple years.

Sleek wooden benches with colorful legs add a stylish touch, although I wish more of them had backs for comfortable relaxing.

Unity Tunnel

One of the bridge’s paths runs under busy Pleasant Valley Road, providing pedestrian access via a tunnel.

Houston artist Reginald Adams made tile mosaics for it, starting with hand prints decorating the outer rim.

The murals were as-yet ungrouted when I visited, but the colorful designs were set in place.

In the tunnel, mosaics symbolizing East Austin and Texas, like this longhorn, unfurl along the walls.

Bluebonnets and a full moon

Cowboys

Prickly pear cactus

An embracing abuelo and abuela

Mischievous raccoons

Bats emerging from under Congress Avenue Bridge

Here’s one side of the tunnel.

The artist’s website explains the concept:

“The Absolute Equality: Unity Tunnel is a love letter to the people of Austin, transforming a once ordinary underpass into a vibrant corridor of collective memory, artistic expression, and cultural pride. Every image within the murals w