Tollway could face further delaysFunding agreements are now officially in place for SH 45 SW to move forward.

The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority and Texas Department of Transportation announced Thursday they secured the final funding agreements for the 3.6-mile toll road, which would redirect commuting traffic from Manchaca Road, Slaughter Lane, and Brodie Lane. The transportation authorities are awaiting a final go-ahead on the project sometime in mid-October.

“This is an historic moment for both of our agencies and the region. This project is a critical mobility solution that provides drivers with a choice to take back their time stuck in traffic. And we are going to do so in a very environmentally sensitive manner, far surpassing required environmental compliance,” Mobility Authority Chairman Ray Wilkerson said in a news release.

The proposed road would connect Loop 1 with FM 1626 in Hays County.

A group called Keep MoPac Local Coalition wants transportation authorities to look at SH 45 SW and other area projects as a whole rather than only individually.

A preliminary injunction hearing is slated for mid-October, and if the judge grants the coalition an injunction, that could delay the project, according to Keep MoPac Local. If the judge rules in favor of the transportation authorities, construction could begin by late October, according to the Mobility Authority.