New Crosswalks and Calmer Lanes on Rutland Drive

Grab a light layer before heading out the door — intermittent showers are rolling through just as fresh asphalt and new pedestrian crossings open up along the northern corridors.

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The Lead

Austin Transportation and Public Works just rolled out completed safety upgrades along Rutland Drive and Mearns Meadow Boulevard, closing out a long, disruptive chapter of infrastructure work in North Austin. The stretch between Burnet Road and North Lamar Boulevard has spent years on the city’s High-Injury Network, plagued by tight turns, narrow sightlines, and heavy pedestrian foot traffic toward nearby schools and transit stops.

Crews added new pedestrian hybrid beacons, protected bike connections, and reconstructed the troublesome intersection at Mearns Meadow, which spent months torn up for deep stormwater culvert installations tied to Little Walnut Creek flood mitigation. The resulting layout trims vehicle lanes to calm cut-through traffic while creating dedicated pedestrian refuge islands. Next up, contractors will paint the remaining green bike lane markings and activate the new crosswalk beacons by Friday.

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Local Pulse

• William Cannon Intersection Shuts for Corridor Upgrades Roads Drivers heading toward McKinney Falls Parkway must use posted detours at Janes Ranch Road while crews rebuild the bridge.

• Lake Pflugerville Trail Closes Southwest Section Parks Park visitors must detour around trail reconstruction through January while contractors widen East Pflugerville Parkway to four lanes.

• Downtown Print Showroom Opens on Twelfth Street Business Austin Print Co opens its storefront today, bringing custom commercial screen printing and local design consultations downtown.

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Today's Outlook

• High 65°F · Low 59°F — Rain (33% chance of precipitation)
  • Keep a rain jacket handy today, as scattered showers may dampen your afternoon commute.

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What's On Around Town

Today

• Tuesday Twilights Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center (4801 La Crosse Ave), 5:00–8:00 PM · $15 Evening garden strolls, native blooms, and live acoustic music.

• The Crafty Adult: APL Pennants Howson Branch Library (2500 Exposition Blvd), 6:15–8:15 PM · Free Hand-craft commemorative library pennants celebrating a century of Austin stories.

• Greg Freeman Antone's Nightclub (305 E 5th St), 8:00 PM · Paid Intimate indie-rock showcase under the legendary downtown club lights.

Tomorrow

• Slothrust Scoot Inn (1308 E 4th St), 5:00 PM · Paid

• Tommy Castro & The Painkillers Paramount Theatre (713 Congress Ave), 8:00 PM · Paid

• Paul Val w/ Nicky Diamonds Antone's Nightclub (305 E 5th St), 8:00 PM · Paid

Thursday

• 1920s Board Game Party St. John Branch Library (7500 Blessing Ave), 5:30–7:30 PM · Free

• Haute Hot Heat Vol. 3 Hotel Vegas (1502 E 6th St), 6:00 PM · $20

• Spicewood Springs Mystery Book Club Spicewood Springs Branch Library (8637 Spicewood Springs Rd), 6:30 PM · Free

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Spotlight & Story

• Sam's Bar-B-Que East 12th Street looks almost unrecognizable compared to 1957, but Brian Mays and his daughter Ebony still run the city’s last remaining Black-owned smokehouse on the block. The secret to sixty-nine years of staying put? Refusing buyout offers and keeping the mutton tender.

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