The Texas Department of Transportation announced Jan. 27 it plans to spend $1.3 billion on the state’s most congested roadways, including I-35 in Travis County. About $158.6 million will go toward projects in TxDOT's Austin District, including at 51st Street, Oltorf Street and between Rundberg Lane and Hwy. 290 E. The congestion relief plan still needs approval from TxDOT’s governing board, the Texas Transportation Commission, which likely will take a vote at its Feb 25 meeting. “Relieving traffic congestion is essential for our economy and our quality of life,” state Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, said in a news release. “I'm pleased this initiative has put the emphasis on I-35, which is the most pressing congestion problem for Central Texas as well as the state. We’ve worked hard and successfully to develop a plan for reducing congestion on I-35 and this investment is key to moving that plan forward.” In recent years TxDOT has received more funding to put toward making improvements on I-35. The agency’s $4.3 billion Mobility35 implementation plan involves breaking down the plan into manageable projects that can be funded as money becomes available. “We are so grateful in Central Texas for our governor and the commission’s interest in congestion relief. We are especially appreciative that Commissioner [J. Bruce Bugg Jr.] has spent so much time with us locally listening to the concerns of our region,” said Will Conley, chairman of the CAMPO policy board and Hays County Precinct 3 commissioner. “This correspondence has strengthened our partnership with the state and strong partnerships make it possible to effectively and efficiently meet the needs of our citizens.” TxDOT has already allocated $58.7 million toward the four projects in the congestion relief plan. Those projects will cost a total of $387.3 million.

I-35 improvements

I-35 at 51st Street: $11.4 million • Realign the southbound frontage road • Construct a new southbound frontage road bypass lane • Construct a roundabout at the southbound frontage road of I-35 and 51st • Reconfigure the entrance and exit ramps • Improve bicycle and pedestrian facilities I-35 at Oltorf Street: $54.5 million • Reconstruct the Oltorf bridge • Improve entrance and exit ramps and frontage roads • Construct new auxiliary lanes for merging traffic or extended entrance and exit ramps • Add U-turns in both directions at Oltorf • Improve bicycle and pedestrian facilities along the I-35 frontage roads in each direction I-35 from Rundberg Lane to Hwy. 290: $82.7 million • Add three new flyovers to improve traffic flow between I-35 and US 183. The flyovers will be built from southbound I-35 to southbound US 183, from northbound US 183 to northbound I-35 and from southbound I-35 to northbound US 183. • Reconfigure entrance and exit ramps to address congestion on the existing northbound I-35 to northbound US 183 flyover • Reconfigure the existing northbound I-35 to northbound US 183 flyover to improve operations • Add intersection bypass roads under St. Johns Avenue in both directions • Reconstruct the St. Johns bridge I-35 Traffic Management System improvements: $10 million TxDOT plans to spend $48.7 million on upgrades to the Transportation Management System, including to the existing Intelligent Transportation System infrastructure. The infrastructure includes traffic cameras, dynamic message signs and roadway sensors. The upgrades will provide drivers with real-time, accurate traffic information to make informed decisions on choosing a route, according to TxDOT. See the full project list here. Updated Jan. 29 to correct the total cost of the Traffic Management System improvements. Improvements at I-35 and 51st Street would be funded by the Texas Department of Transportation's $1.3 billion congestion relief plan.[/caption]