The overview
The East Main Street Expansion is part of an $89.66 million bond package approved by Buda voters in 2021 to improve transportation and park infrastructure, according to previous Community Impact reporting.
While the bond funded the design of the full East Main Street build-out, construction costs are currently unaffordable and not covered by the bond, according to city documents from a Nov. 6 agenda—prompting the need for an interim fix. The Main Street East Expansion design, along with the implementation of the interim solution, altogether cost $1.2 million, according to the Buda Bond Funding website.
The completed interim project widened Main Street and added a dedicated right-turn lane from westbound Main Street onto northbound I-35 frontage road, according to a Buda Bond presentation from the Nov. 6 City Council agenda.
The improvements were built within the existing right-of-way, according to city documents. A city Facebook post also noted that plastic delineators will be installed at key locations, including:
- 15359 I-35: The driveway to McDonald's and the Exxon gas station
- 2020 Main St.: The driveway to Grease Monkey Auto
- Pit Stop Trace traveling northbound
The background
The full East Main Street extension, while still in the design phase, does not yet have funding for construction. According to the Buda Bond website, the future project is expected to include:
- Widening the existing roadway, which is one lane in each direction with a center turn lane, to two lanes in each direction with a median and left turn lanes.
- Creating a shared-use path on both sides of the roadway
- Improving drainage along the roadway.
