The city of Austin hosted a groundbreaking Dec. 8 for the Spicewood Springs Road expansion, which will widen a section of the road from two to four lanes to address traffic congestion and safety concerns in the area, according to a news release.

What residents should know

• The construction will affect the 2-mile stretch of road from Mesa Drive to Loop 360.
• The improvements are expected to cause lane closures and detours throughout construction.
• The $31 million expansion project is funded by the resident-approved 2016 Mobility Bond and is set to be completed by December 2026.

Other details

The project also includes the addition of a grassy median, two shared-use pedestrian paths on each side of the road and an underground storm drain system to manage water flow.

Quote of note

"By 2027 this stretch of Spicewood Springs Road is expected to see over 22,000 vehicles each day. We also know that between 2012 and 2017, 47% of vehicle collisions on this stretch resulted in injury. I'm very pleased that the new improvements will not only be safer, but more efficient," District 10 council member Alison Alter said at the groundbreaking.