Drivers heading east on Cesar Chavez Street are now prohibited from turning left on Sandra Muraida Way.[/caption]

Beginning today, drivers heading east on Cesar Chavez Street will be unable to turn left onto Sandra Muraida Way to connect to North Lamar Boulevard.

The new traffic pattern makes drivers turn left at Walter Seaholm Drive—the next signal after Sandra Muraida Way—instead. From Walter Seaholm, motorists can turn left on to West Second Street and head west to the Sandra Muraida roundabout to turn right on North Lamar.

The Austin Transportation Department said this new pattern will improve traffic flow at the intersection of Cesar Chavez and Sandra Muraida because of a lack of a left turn lane.

The city said the changes are part of the ongoing effort to carry out the Austin Traffic Congestion Action Plan, which lists several projects aimed at reducing congestion by eliminating "unnecessary traffic maneuvers" like left turns in corridors without dedicated turn lanes.