The Texas Department of Transportation is planning road closures Jan. 17-22 to accommodate construction of the SH 71 express toll lane project, and travel to and form the airport will be affected.

The first closure will occur Jan. 17-19 between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. on the eastbound SH 71 frontage road and on-ramp east of Presidential Boulevard. Traffic exiting the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport toward Bastrop will be detoured to westbound SH 71 to use a turnaround.

From Jan. 19-22 between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. closures will rotate between the eastbound SH 71 exit toward Presidential and the eastbound frontage road between Spirit of Texas Drive and Presidential. Drivers traveling east toward ABIA should exit at Spirit of Texas Drive toward the cargo and cell phone lot areas instead of using the main ABIA exit. View an interactive Google map of the closures and alternative routes here.

The 3.9-mile SH 71 project will add two toll lanes in each direction from Presidential Boulevard to Onion Creek and overpasses at FM 973 and SH 130. Pedestrian and bicycle facilities will also be added to improve access on both sides of SH 71.

Construction began Jan. 27, 2015, and is expected to be complete in late 2016. For more information visit the project website.

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