Drivers along the SH 71 East corridor between Austin-Bergstrom Airport and Bastrop will notice fewer traffic signals and more frontage roads as the Texas Department of Transportation continues efforts to alleviate congestion to accommodate the area’s growth.

In a nutshell

TxDOT officials held a ribbon-cutting ceremony in early October for the completion of the first of four planned projects in the area, called Ross Road and Kellam Road.
The project added two overpasses, allowing those driving through along SH 71 E. to avoid traffic lights. (Rendering courtesy of TxDOT)
The project added two overpasses, allowing those driving through along SH 71 East to avoid traffic lights. (Rendering courtesy of TxDOT)
What’s different?

The $70 million, 2.5-mile Ross Road and Kellam Road project started in February 2021, according to a news release issued by TxDOT.

Changes to the Ross and Kellam roads portion of SH 71 East include:
  • New overpasses at both intersections, eliminating traffic lights for drivers passing through
  • New frontage roads for enhanced access to local businesses and homes
  • Expansion of bicycle and pedestrian accommodations
Other projects


Other parts of the SH 71 East Corridor plan include similar changes to:
  • Tucker Hill Lane, with bids opening in February 2025
  • Pope Bend Road, with bids opening in October 2026
  • FM 1209, with bids opening in 2030
What they’re saying

“This project is another step toward removing all traffic signals on SH 71 between Austin and I-10,” TxDOT officials said in the release. “As Travis and Bastrop counties continue to grow, the completed project improves safety and mobility by allowing through-traffic on SH 71 to flow through the area without stopping.”