Transportation Updates Central Austin Transportation Updates for April 2016[/caption]

1. 35th Street underground electrical service


Lanes along 35th Street between Hillview Road and Foothill Parkway will be temporarily closed starting in May as the city upgrades electrical service to the Davis Water Treatment Plant, 3500 W. 35th St. The project entails the construction of electrical feeders under 35th from Austin Energy’s Warren substation near Camp Mabry to the Davis Water Treatment Plant, which will help maintain reliable delivery of drinking water to Austin Water utility customers, according to a city news release. Construction noise can be expected within the contractor’s working hours: 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon.-Sun.
Timeline: May-November 2016
Cost: $975,000
Funding sources: Austin Water



2.  Redbud Trail bridge replacement design phase


Engineers began studying in March how to replace the bridge on Redbud Trail over Lady Bird Lake. Strains placed on the bridge caused by flooding, population growth and the increasing number of vehicles traversing it have led to a redesign of the 68-year-old bridge, which is nearing the end of its operational life. The new bridge will provide enhanced bicycle and pedestrian access. The city of Austin Public Works Department will begin gathering public input on the project this summer.
Timeline: March-fall 2017 (construction timeline TBD)
Cost: $1.1 million (initial design phase), $5 million (estimated overall design)
Funding sources: 1998 transportation bond, 2006 transportation bond, 2012 transportation and mobility bond



3. MoPac


Transportation Updates Central Austin April 2016 SH 130, SH 45 E[/caption]

The project will add an express, or toll, lane in either direction on MoPac from Parmer Lane to Cesar Chavez Street. Workers have finished excavating the area for the northbound underpass and will be working on installing drainage. The number of lanes over Lady Bird Lake will be reduced from three to two in each direction until September. By the spring workers will have widened the outside shoulder of MoPac between Enfield Road and US 183 and completed the shared-use path and sidewalks between Parmer and Far West Boulevard. Crews are installing sound walls and widening the bridge at RM 2222.
Timeline: October 2013-Nov. 29
Cost: $204 million
Funding sources: state, federal funds



4. SH 130, SH 45 E


An effort to implement a permanent discount for semitrailers on SH 130 failed in the previous legislative session, but the governing board for the Texas Department of Transportation approved another temporary discount March 31. The Texas Transportation Commission approved discounting toll rates for semitrailers that use SH 130 between Georgetown and SH 45 SE as well as on SH 45 SE, which connects I-35 and SH 130. The project is expected to provide some congestion relief on I-35.
Timeline: April 18-August 2017
Cost: $18.7 million
Funding source: state budget