AUSTIN (KXAN) — Concrete barriers went up along Sixth Street recently, as part of the Austin Police Department’s efforts to prevent late-night crowds from gathering in the street or outside businesses since opening the road back up to cars over the weekends.
These replaced the water-filled barriers that were up for about four months, and are now the third type of infrastructure the city has used since the street opened up to car traffic full-time in January.
Painted concrete barriers now line part of Sixth Street
“After installing water-filled barriers on Sixth Street, we heard from business owners that the area felt too much like a construction site, so the City opted to make the switch to concrete barriers,” the city previously told KXAN in an email statement.
The barriers were painted by local artist Emily Eisenhart. She said she applied to an open Request for Proposal and was chosen to paint the barricades as part of a beautification effort by the Downtown Austin Alliance and the East Sixth Street Public Improvement District…