Public Notice: Barton Springs Maintenance Closure and City Council Deadlines

Official Governance and Housing Notices

The City of Austin has issued several administrative updates for Friday, February 20, 2026. Residents wishing to address the local government are notified that speaker registration for the upcoming February 24 City Council Work Session will officially open today at 5:00 PM. Registration is required for those intending to provide testimony on the week's agenda items. In addition, the Housing Authority of the City of Austin (HACA) is currently holding a public comment period regarding its 2026 PHA Annual Plan. This plan details proposed administrative changes to the Housing Choice Voucher program and updates on the waiting lists for several communities, including Bouldin Oaks, Booker T. Washington, and Meadowbrook. Community members are encouraged to review these drafts and provide feedback to ensure housing policies align with resident needs.

Parks and Environmental Infrastructure

The Austin Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) has confirmed a major temporary closure of Barton Springs Pool starting Monday, February 23, 2026. The facility will be shuttered through March 13 to facilitate the Barton Springs Skimmer Bypass Project. This essential work involves the removal of a 1940s-era skimmer bypass that was recently identified as unstable. Because the pool is located within an endangered species habitat, the city will implement specialized measures to protect the Barton Springs salamander during the construction process. While the pool is closed, PARD staff will also perform seasonal maintenance and cleaning to prepare for the increased traffic of the spring season. Other city-maintained year-round pools will remain open to the public, though patrons should check for intermittent maintenance schedules at individual locations.

Transportation and Traffic Alerts

Ongoing construction continues to impact traffic patterns in the downtown and I-35 corridors. As of this week, lane closures are in effect on Congress Avenue, where northbound traffic has been reduced to a single lane near Cesar Chavez Street. Additionally, the I-35 Capital Express Central project has transitioned to a new phase involving the closure of the northbound frontage road just north of Riverside Drive. To mitigate delays, the city has opened a new Riverside Drive bypass lane and a temporary south-to-north U-turn at Woodland Avenue. Pedestrians are also advised that the boardwalk ramp along the northbound I-35 frontage road at Riverside Drive is currently closed for construction through the coming years, with detours directed toward South Lakeshore Boulevard.

Public Health and Wildlife Safety

Austin Public Health (APH) reminds the community that regional cedar pollen levels remain high, frequently overlapping with the tail end of the seasonal flu. Health officials recommend that residents stay home if they exhibit symptoms and consult with a provider to differentiate between allergens and viral infections. Furthermore, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has issued a wildlife health alert following detections of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in wild bird populations. While no immediate local threat has been reported, residents are urged to maintain distance from waterfowl in city parks and avoid handling dead or distressed birds to prevent the potential spread of the virus to domestic flocks.