Orange barrels and shifting lanes are a daily reality for drivers along SH 71 between Bastrop and Austin, where a 22-mile stretch of improvements is steadily reshaping the corridor—changes Bastrop officials said will bring long-term relief for motorists.

The overview: In 2015, the average daily traffic on SH 71, just east of SH 130, was more than 50,000 vehicles per day, according to a Texas Department of Transportation traffic analysis. By 2022, that count increased to 55,730.

“I’ve worked in Austin for going on 22 years,” Bastrop Mayor Ishmael Harris said during a March 26 business conference. “I’ve traveled up and down SH 71 throughout that time, and that gave me a big perspective and understanding of the impact of people moving to our area. I’m seeing so much traffic.”

He recounted his drive to work at 4:45 a.m. and his drive back to Bastrop about three hours later.

“I took a picture on my way back from Austin because for 2 miles all you could see was headlights,” Harris said.

Film Alley Bastrop is joining a company-wide celebration of Schulman Theatres’ centennial. The Film Alley brand is part of Schulman Theatres, which has operated in Texas since 1926.

In a nutshell: The Bastrop entertainment venue offers movies, bowling, arcade games, live comedy shows, dining and drinks. Festivities began May 1 with a 100-day giveaway promotion.

• 1600 Chestnut St., Bastrop

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Austin City Limits released its 2026 lineup, revealing headliners including Lorde and Kings of Leon, as well as Austin-based acts like The Huston-Tillotson University Jazz Collective and Grocery Bag. 

This year marks the festival’s 25th anniversary, taking place over two weekends: Oct. 2-4 and Oct. 9-11 at Zilker Park. 

Learn more: The full list of headliners also includes The xx and Rüfüs Du Sol. Other sets will also showcase music from Turnstile, Labrinth, Lola Young and The Chainsmokers. 

Other performers expected to perform at the festival are Suki Waterhouse, Rebecca Black, Natasha Bedingfield and Blood Orange. Check out the full lineup on the ACL Music Festival website. 

From a Moxies in the Domain to a new business park in Georgetown, here are five of the most expensive projects filed with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation in the Austin metro this week.

1. Moxies ($7 million): A new Moxies location is coming to the Domain, with construction set to begin in July. 

2. Austin Ridge Bible Church ($7 million): Austin Ridge purchased the Great Hills Baptist Church facility and are working on plans for renovation.

3. Mason Phase 2 ($5 million): This project includes improvements to a single family subdivision, covering 32,000 square feet.

4. Decker Lane site work ($4.5 million): This project includes work on Decker Industrial Park for five buildings, and associated connecting roads and utilities around the building.

5. Bell Gin Business Park ($3.72 million): The project consists of constructing five 7,200-square-foot shell buildings and two 10,800-square-foot buildings for commercial office and warehouse use.