Editor's note: To view this story as it appeared in Community Impact's February Northwest Austin print edition, click here.
City of Austin officials held a groundbreaking March 5 to kick off efforts to redevelop Burnet Road with $64 million worth of various safety and mobility improvements, marking a major milestone for the corridor project.
The overview
The project is slated to reach completion in three segments between mid-2027 and late 2028, bringing upgraded traffic signals, pedestrian and bike infrastructure, bus stop improvements, and more.
The segment from Koenig Lane to White Horse Trail was completed three years ago and has shown a reduction in crashes in the area following construction, according to city of Austin data.
Austin’s 2016 Mobility Bond allocated $482 million toward corridor improvements across the city, with Burnet Road being one of the nine corridors identified.
City officials had a rough concept of what improvements to make on Burnet prior to the passage of this bond as the roadway is notably missing proper drainage infrastructure, sidewalks and bike facilities, said Anna Martin, assistant director of Austin’s Transportation and Public Works department.
“Burnet Road has been experiencing a lot of growth and redevelopment over the past decade or so,” Martin said. “Especially north of [US] 183, it very much feels like an old highway. ... Knowing the kind of development that was happening, this was put in the queue for mobility improvements. So it’s really taking what is an old state highway and bringing it up to urban standards.”
Breaking it down
According to TPW, Segment C2 is slated to cost $12 million, with construction lasting from February 2026 to July 2027. Key improvements will include traffic signal upgrades at the White Horse Trail, Justin Lane/Pegram Avenue, Northcross Drive/St. Joseph Boulevard and Anderson Lane intersections.
C3 is slated to cost $29 million, with construction lasting from June 2026 to December 2028. Key improvements will include intersection and traffic signal improvements at Bright Verde Way, Braker Lane, Kramer Lane, Esperanza Crossing, Solaris Street, Palm Way, Gault Lane and Gracy Farms Lane.
C4 is slated to cost $23 million, with construction lasting from March 2026 to October 2027. Key improvements will include intersection and traffic signal improvements at Research Boulevard, Waterford Center Boulevard, Longhorn Boulevard and Rutland Drive.
Each segment is expected to see other safety and mobility improvements, including:
- 8-foot-wide shared-use paths
- Accessible bus stops and other safety improvements
- Landscape enhancements
- Drainage improvements
- Driveway reconstruction
Something to note Improvements between Koenig Lane and White Horse Trail were completed in 2023 as part of the mobility program. Work included bus stop improvements, traffic signal upgrades, new turn lanes, shared-use paths and improved crossings.
According to Martin, the area has seen a 42% decrease in crashes post-construction compared to pre-construction data collected between 2017-22.
