Mesa Drive between Spicewood Springs Road and Far West Boulevard was repaved in July and August 2026. That stretch hadn't been resurfaced in about 20 years. The street getting striped onto that new asphalt this fall works differently from the old one. It has one travel lane in each direction, a buffered bike lane on each side, four new pedestrian crossing islands, and asphalt speed cushions where the rubber ones used to be.
Mesa is one of several changes coming to Northwest Hills this season, and they all lean the same way. A nature preserve trail is going a full year without permits, on the bet that small groups will follow the rules. A dry cleaner on FM 2222 is being turned into a sit-down restaurant with outdoor seating. A neighborhood park off Spicewood Springs Road has plans for bike racks, a pavilion and a new walk-in entrance. Each one gives up a little speed or capacity to serve people who move slower, come in smaller groups, or stay longer.
Mesa Drive's Fall Roadwork, Lane by Lane
The City of Austin expects roadwork on Mesa between Spicewood Springs and Far West throughout September and October, including at the Spicewood Springs Road and Mesa Drive intersection. The city says the schedule may change and drivers should expect temporary traffic delays.
The finished street will have:
- One travel lane in each direction
- Bike lanes with painted buffers on both sides
- Four new pedestrian crossing islands
- Asphalt speed cushions replacing the existing rubber ones
- Safety changes at the Spicewood Springs Road and Mesa Drive intersection
- On-street parking on the east side only, separated from the bike lane
According to the city, the redesign comes from how resurfacing works. Crews strip out the old pavement markings and put down new ones that meet current safety and engineering standards. Those standards have changed in the 20 years since this section was last paved, and narrower travel lanes are on the list of required updates. The city also used the repaving to make other changes based on traffic data and community feedback.
The parking change has the most day-to-day impact for people who live on Mesa. Under the final design, on-street parking stays only on the east side of the street. If you park on the west side today, or your guests do, that space won't be in the new layout.
Forest Ridge Trail Without the Permit
A few miles west, the Forest Ridge Trail at Bull Creek Preserve is trying a different version of the same idea. For years, hikers needed a Bull Creek Permit to use the trail from March 1 to July 31, the breeding season of the endangered Golden-cheeked Warbler. In 2026, the city isn't issuing or requiring permits, as part of a pilot program meant to improve the experience for responsible trail users.
The permit is gone, but the rules are not, and they apply year-round:
- Groups of 10 or fewer
- No dogs, bikes or horseback riding
- No amplified or excessive noise
- No camping or campfires
The city enforces those rules with gates. Austin Water says it is watching trail use closely, and it can lock the pedestrian gates at each entrance any time recreation threatens the habitat. Reasons for a closure include people going off trail, dogs or bikes, groups larger than 10, more than 240 people in a day, noise, wet trails that could erode, and storm damage. The trail sits on Balcones Canyonlands Preserve land, which is why its rules differ from the parks next to it.
The city's goal is clear from its own wording. If small groups keep the noise down and stay on the trail, they may be able to keep hiking it even during nesting season. The city's preserve page explains how the trail is monitored but doesn't report how the 2026 nesting season went or say what happens in 2027.
Fall is the easy season to go. The city's Wildland Trails map showed Forest Ridge Trail as open in a status update dated September 21, 2026. It lists the trail as dawn to dusk, foot traffic only, groups of 10 or fewer. The city asks hikers to consider limiting visits from March 1 to July 31, when the warbler and the rare Black-capped Vireo nest there. For other options, it points to the Bull Creek Greenbelt and St. Edwards Park nearby. The trail is rugged and has no restrooms or running water. If your hike usually includes the dog, the Greenbelt is the better pick.
A Dry Cleaner on FM 2222 Becomes a Dining Room
At 3720 FM 2222, near Dry Creek Drive, the old Reid's Dry Cleaners & Laundry building is becoming Allday Pizza. Hoodline reported in April 2026 that it will be the brand's biggest dining room yet, with indoor and outdoor seating and a full bar. People used to stop at the dry cleaner for a few minutes. The restaurant is designed for staying a while.
Allday started in 2023 inside Flo's Wine Bar & Bottle Shop in Tarrytown, run by Dan Sorg and Townsend Smith. It later moved into a counter-service spot in Hyde Park. According to Hoodline, the Northwest Hills location is their first big standalone restaurant. It will keep walk-up counter ordering, add table service, and stay open more days of the week than some of their earlier part-time setups.
"This is the first time we really get to stand on our own and shape the whole experience." Dan Sorg, as quoted by the Austin American-Statesman
The menu is expected to keep Allday's standbys: thin-crust, 16-inch New York-style pies, salads, an Italian grinder and soft serve.
The opening date is still unclear. In November 2025, What Now Austin reported permit records showing construction set to finish in early June 2026, with a Summer 2026 opening expected. Hoodline was still giving the same summer estimate in April and said the owners hadn't set an official date. As of early October, Allday's website lists only two locations, 3111 W. 35th St. and 4300 Speedway. The FM 2222 address isn't on that list.
Bull Creek Bluff Park, on a Longer Clock
The slowest of these projects is Bull Creek Bluff Neighborhood Park at 6309 Spicewood Springs Road. The city's plans include ADA-accessible parking, a pavilion, a rain garden, bike racks, trash and recycling bins, and a new entrance lined up with Yaupon Drive. That entrance means people coming from Yaupon could walk straight into the park.
The city's estimated schedule is permitting in Summer 2026, construction in Summer 2027 and the park opening in Winter 2027. The city says these dates could change.
Where Each Change Stands in October
| Project | What changes | City or owner timeline | How firm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mesa Drive, Spicewood Springs to Far West | One lane each way, buffered bike lanes, four crossing islands, east-side parking only | Roadwork throughout September and October 2026 | Under construction; schedule may change |
| Forest Ridge Trail, Bull Creek Preserve | No permits in 2026; groups of 10 or fewer, 240 people per day | 2026 pilot; marked open September 21, 2026 | Can close any time; city page gives no 2027 plan |
| Allday Pizza, 3720 FM 2222 | Former dry cleaner becomes sit-down restaurant with bar | Summer 2026 opening was the forecast | Not listed on Allday's site yet |
| Bull Creek Bluff Neighborhood Park | Pavilion, rain garden, bike racks, Yaupon Drive entrance | Construction Summer 2027, opening Winter 2027 | Estimates, subject to change |
Three October Dates on the NWACA Calendar
The Northwest Austin Civic Association calendar has three dates this month:
- Thursday, October 15, 5 to 6 p.m. Monthly Zoning and Transportation Committee Meeting, held online.
- Saturday, October 17, 8 to 11 a.m. Monthly Park Cleanup at Bull Creek District Park or Allen Park. Check NWACA's notices for which one.
- Monday, October 19, 6 to 7 p.m. Art Event at Stillhouse Hollow Nature Preserve, 7810 Sterling Dr.
If you plan to sell in the next year and live on Mesa or near one of these projects, it's worth knowing how a new street layout or a new restaurant down the block affects your listing. Chet Smith at CBSrealty follows Northwest Hills street by street. Call Chet for a free home consultation and he'll show you how changes like these fit into pricing your home.
