Drivers on MoPac will see speed limits return to 65 mph north of US 183 on Oct. 9 but only when workers are not present.

"We'll be obtaining digital signs for the speed limits," said Mike Heiligenstein, executive director of the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority, which is overseeing the MoPac Improvement Project. "We don't want people getting tickets. We're here to remind people to slow down."

The speed limit increase is a result of crews installing new barriers. Crews mainly will be working after 8 p.m. weekdays and after 5 p.m. Sundays, Heiligenstein said.

South of US 183, the speed limit remains at 55 mph for the length of the project. Upon completion in fall 2015, the project will add one new lane in each direction from Parmer Lane to Cesar Chavez Street.

Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo said the Austin Police Department has increased its presence on MoPac since construction started in fall 2013. He said that is helping remind drivers to adhere to the 55 mph speed limit in the construction zone.

Additional police presence is not a speed trap, Acevedo said, but an attempt to maintain the safety of drivers and construction workers. He said the number of drunk driving incidents has declined since police started to more heavily monitor the highway.

"We know that when we're out here, people know we're paying attention and writing tickets," he said, pointing to MoPac where an officer had stopped a speeding motorist. "They go home and tell their friends who tells a friend who tells a friend to slow down. Guess what? That's exactly what we want."

In 2013, Texas had 17,311 crashes on roadways under construction on undergoing maintenance, resulting in 9,105 injuries and 115 deaths, he said.

"It's simple: don't speed in a construction zone; take your time; be patient; plan ahead," Acevedo said.

Fines for speeding in construction zones cost double compared with regular speeding ticket fines, Senior Police Ofc. Dennis Farris said. Fines are based on how fast a driver was going over the speed limit in increments of 5 mph. Regular fines are between $164–$301 for going 5–30 mph above the speed limit. Fines for speeding in a construction zone cost $328–$602, Farris said.

Acevedo said APD has not been keeping track of how many speeding tickets it has issued since the start of the project.

Express lanes update

Steve Pustelnyk, Mobility Authority director of community relations for the MoPac project, said construction is on schedule. Crews have started paving the new express lanes north of US 183. Between US 183 and RM 2222, construction is wrapping up on the retaining walls. Next, Pustelnyk said workers will lay the base material for the new lanes.

South of RM 2222, workers are removing existing fencing and drilling foundation shafts for the installation of 7 miles of sound walls.

Part of the project includes building new underpasses from the new express lanes into the exits for Fifth and Cesar Chavez streets. Pustelnyk said workers are creating tunnels and installing drainage pipes for those underpasses.

Throughout the project crews are also continuing work to widen bridges. For updates visit www.mopacexpress.com.