Demolition of the island median at the intersection of FM 685 and Main Street, near H-E-B, will take place starting Oct. 22, according to city information.

The why: As part of the city’s Downtown East project, a new traffic light is being installed at the intersection, and Main Street is being extended from its current terminus at N. Railroad Avenue.

The light will be set to flash mode in late October, city officials said.

The median currently at the intersection will be demolished Oct. 22-23. One northbound and one southbound lane from Pecan Street to Applewood Drive will be closed from 9 p.m.-5 a.m. The outside lanes will remain open.

Zooming out: Downtown East is nearing completion, with city staff set to move into the new City Hall in late December.

Cava, a Mediterranean fast-casual restaurant, opened Oct. 21 in Stone Hill Town Center.

The details: The restaurant serves customizable bowls and pita wraps with several protein options, including steak, lamb, falafel and chicken. Toppings include a variety of greens, rice, lentils, roasted vegetables, corn, pickled onions, avocado and more.

What else? Cava shares a new building in the development with an upcoming Hopdoddy Burger Bar, which is scheduled to open on Oct. 27. 

• 18709 Limestone Commercial Drive, Ste. 100, Pflugerville

Travelers this October, especially those for Formula 1, should prepare for long lines at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.

The details: Airport officials expect possible record-breaking busy days at the airport Oct. 22 through Oct. 27. The busiest day is anticipated to be Oct. 26, the day after the United States Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas on Oct. 25.

Going forward: Airport officials recommend the following tips to travelers:

• Arrive 2.5 hours before departure for domestic flights and 3 hours before departure for international flights

• Allow extra time for checking luggage, returning rental cars or parking before joining the security line

• Use either the upper level for departures or the lower level for arrivals when dropping off passengers

There are four security checkpoints leading to all gates. The first checkpoints open at 3 a.m..

The background: ABIA recorded its busiest month ever for passenger traffic in June, servicing 2,102,853 departing and arriving passengers. The second busiest month was recorded in July, with 2,102,655 departing and arriving passengers, according to previous Community Impact reporting.

Texas environmental regulators have continued processing certain data center permits in the month since Gov. Greg Abbott ordered a permitting pause, according to a new report from FracTracker, an oil and gas watchdog group.

The details: Abbott directed the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality last month to "halt all permits sought by data centers" while the Electric Reliability Council of Texas audits proposed projects.

Yet as of Oct. 16, the TCEQ had moved at least 35 data center-related applications forward, per an analysis of TCEQ records.

Zooming in: The agency has issued public notices for three data center projects since Abbott ordered the pause Sept. 21. It also approved stormwater coverage, certified air emissions limits or assigned engineers to other projects.

"No permits have been approved," Andrew Mahaleris, the governor's press secretary, said Oct. 20. "In line with the governor’s directive, TCEQ has not taken and will not take any proactive actions related to the approval of data center permits."

"These actions do not signal an agency trying to pause," FracTracker said in the report.