E. 7th St. Now Only Kind of Ugly Instead of Horrific

The E. 7th st. Improvement Project began seven years ago, in 2003. Public meetings were held for three years, until 2006. Utility upgrading began in 2007, and then construction crews began ripping up pavement over a year ago, in March of 2010. Finally, three years of construction on East Seventh between Navasota Street and Pleasant Valley Road in East Austin ended Sunday, August 7, 2011. The barriers were lifted, the cones taken away and a gleaming smooth wide glorious E. 7th St. was revealed. Local businesses that managed to survive the construction and the loss of customers hope that they’ll see their business improve now that 7th st is not only open again, but is a much more pleasant place to be. Residents of E. 7th st will also get some much needed rest as the recent heat forced construction crews to finish up their work at night.

Trees and plants and pretty tan pebbles line the sidewalk and the intersections are decorated with brick and tiled walls. Days before they lifted the cones, an almost comically narrow bike lane was wedged between the lane and the curb. It’s definitely an improvement from the neglected, almost hellish route that used to be. It now serves as a more pleasant welcoming to those coming into downtown from the Austin Bergstrom Airport. In addition, it serves as much more pleasant place to walk around instead of just a place you try to drive through as quickly as possibly as to avoid a headache.

Though business owners are excited and relieved, it's not completely over... Next up for East 7th Street, improvements between Navasota to Interstate 35 and then a face lift between Pleasant Valley Road to State Highway 183.

"Once it's all complete it will definitely be a major thoroughfare for the city of Austin," said project manager Clay Harris.

A celebration event of the street’s re-opening with new infrastructure and amenities will be held on Saturday, August 27, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The festivities will begin with a program and ribbon-cutting, and will conclude in an old- fashion “street fair” at the corner of East 7th and Pleasant Valley in the HEB parking lot. There will be booths by local merchants, tours of the obelisco artwork done by local artists, games for kids and performances by local artists and musicians.