A major traffic shift is coming to downtown in the fall. Last week, Austin City Council approved a measure converting East Fifth Street from Brazos Street to I-35 into a two-way thoroughfare. The Austin Transportation Department is leading the project and said the conversion is expected to take several months. The department will "dramatically change" most of the markings and signage along this portion of the road to make sure it is perceived as a two-way street. ATD spokesperson Marissa Monroy said the project is anticipated to begin in the summer after public outreach is complete. Here is further information on the project as well as others taking place in Central Austin:

Fifth Street two-way conversion

East Fifth Street is slated to be converted to a two-way from Brazos Street to I-35 to reduce congestion and improve mobility in the downtown area, according to the city of Austin. The conversion will result in two eastbound lanes and one westbound lane. The move came after Capital Metro revealed plans to build a permanent MetroRail station on Fourth Street and close through traffic to vehicles. The agency plans to restrict traffic on Fourth between Red River and Trinity for pedestrian and bicycle use only. Traffic on Neches Street will end in a cul-de-sac at Fourth. Timeline: Summer-fall 2017 (estimated) Cost: $500,000 Funding sources: Austin Transportation Department

Chesterfield Lane sidewalk project

Construction is underway on a new, 1,800-foot sidewalk on Chesterfield Lane. The project spans Chesterfield from North Loop Boulevard to Koenig Lane and is one of the first projects funded by the 2016 mobility bond to undergo construction. Sidewalks will provide an Americans with Disabilities Act-accessible path and aim to increase neighborhood connectivity. Timeline: May 9-May 23 Cost: $131,000 Funding sources: 2016 city of Austin mobility bond

MoPac toll lanes

Major structural construction will wrap up in June on the MoPac express toll lanes between Parmer Lane and Cesar Chavez Street. In the coming weeks the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority expects to reopen the northbound auxiliary, or merge, lane between 35th and 45th streets. Crews also will be laying down the final layer of pavement this spring. The MoPac contractor previously expected to complete the project in June. However, Mobility Authority Executive Director Mike Heiligenstein said on March 29 that the agency is anticipating the project will not be done by then but will be complete sometime this summer. Timeline: October 2013-summer 2017 Cost: $204 million Funding sources: various

Colorado Street reconstruction

The contractor has shifted work to the southwest quadrant of the project area, which includes Colorado between Seventh and 10th streets. During this time, Ninth Street has been reduced to one eastbound lane and 10th Street to one westbound lane between Lavaca and Colorado streets. Parking just west of Colorado along the north side of Ninth Street will not be allowed. Additionally, parking just west of Colorado along the south side of 10th Street will not be allowed. The remaining work includes the south side of the Seventh Street intersection, traffic signal foundations, electrical conduits for street lights, irrigation, new sidewalk, curb and gutter, and concrete paving. Timeline: November 2015-July 2017 Cost: $5.7 million Funding sources: 2012 transportation and mobility bonds

Southeast Allandale water and wastewater improvements

The city’s contractor has completed installation of the new water main on Strass Drive, Pembrook Trail and Rue Street, and crews are performing leak and bacteriological testing. Once that is complete the houses will be connected to the new line, and the streets will be paved. The contractor will resume work on Chiappero Trail from La Ronde to 45th Street, on La Ronde and on 45th Street once the MoPac express lanes project reopens the northbound auxiliary lane between 35th and 45th Streets. The project entails street overlay, a street maintenance technique that applies about 2 inches of asphalt to the existing road surface. Timeline: April 2016-fall 2017 Cost: $3.81 million Funding sources: Austin Water