The improvements are part of a program that Austin City Council approved as part of its Vision Zero Action Plan, which aims to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries from vehicle collisions. Improvements are expected to reduce collisions between vehicles and pedestrians by enhancing pedestrian safety features and adding a median to reduce left-turn collisions.
Council approved funding for improvements at five intersections throughout the city, including at North Lamar and Parmer Lane, where similar construction will begin in February. Other intersections include Slaughter Lane and Manchaca Road, Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and I-35, and Cameron Road and US 183.
The city of Austin begins safety improvements Nov. 21 at the intersection of North Lamar Boulevard and Rundberg Lane.[/caption]Safety improvements:
- Build raised medians on North Lamar between Rundberg and Rutland Drive
- Add high-visibility continental crosswalks—those with stripes—at all pedestrian crossing points
- Reconstruct pedestrian ramps for better accessibility
- Convert the existing pedestrian hybrid beacon on Rundberg near the Little Walnut Creek Branch Library to a traffic signal with pedestrian crossings
- Construct a new pedestrian hybrid beacon on Rutland between the H-E-B shopping center and Cash America Pawn, and install crosswalk markings
- Construct a median in the driveway of Little Walnut Creek Branch Library and restrict access to right turns only
Construction closures:
- Late November to end of December: Crosswalk and ramp installation will require rotating right lane closures at the corners of each intersection. The closures will occur weekdays from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Drivers will still be able to make right turns.
- First three weeks of January: Median construction will require closures to one lane in each direction on North Lamar. The closures will occur weekdays between 9 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
- Late January-February: Paving, striping and sign installation will require limited nighttime and/or weekend lane closures.
- Some nearby Capital Metro bus stops will need to be temporarily relocated at various points throughout construction.
