Wondering what’s behind recent lane changes or detours? Several road and pedestrian projects across Southwest Austin are reshaping local traffic and enhancing safety for all road users. Transportation updates from the city of Austin and Texas Department of Transportation indicate several changes across Southwest Austin.

Ongoing

I-35 Capital Express South

Project: Plans for the stretch of highway include adding two high-occupancy-vehicle, or HOV, lanes in each direction between Hwy. 71 and SH 45 Southeast. The project will also include a southbound I-35 bypass lane that will allow traffic to bypass Stassney Lane and William Cannon Drive.

Update: According to a December update from TxDOT, crews have completed 61 of the needed 98 columns to support the planned elevated managed lanes. Additionally, the northbound Boggy Creek frontage road bridge was reopened to two-lane traffic, a new Onion Creek bridge was completed including the installation of new bat houses for the local bat population.Slaughter Lane


Project: One of the city’s corridor improvement programs, work along Slaughter Lane includes widening the roadway from four to six lanes, adding shared-use paths, signal upgrades and landscaping enhancements. Spanning FM 1826 to Old Lockhart Road, the project is aimed at increasing safety for pedestrians and bicyclists as well as increasing mobility.

Update: The most recent phase of work from MoPac to Brodie Lane, known as C2, kicked off this past summer. Work includes new traffic signals and crosswalk upgrades at the intersection of Brodie Lane and Bowie High School. At Zuniga Drive, there will also be a new pedestrian crossing light and other safety improvements.
  • Timeline: 2025-2027
  • Cost: $23 million
  • Funding source: 2016 Mobility Bond as well as federal grant funding allocated by the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
Completed projects

Menchaca Road

Project: In partnership with TxDOT, the city outlined plans to increase multimodal safety along Mechaca Road from William Cannon Drive to Ravenscroft Drive.


Update: The project was completed in August, creating a one-lane protected bike lane along this route.
  • Timeline: spring 2025-fall 2025
  • Cost: $213,000
  • Funding source: 2020 Mobility Bonds and private development mitigation fees
South Austin street lighting improvements

Project: The city of Austin completed several street lighting projects designed to enhance nighttime traffic safety, including new or upgraded lighting at 13 major intersections with a high number of crashes.

Update: All lighting projects are complete, marking the conclusion of Vision Zero’s 2018 Bond program, including at the intersections of Escarpment Boulevard and William Cannon Drive and Brodie Lane and William Cannon Drive