Residents attended a Texas Department of Transportation public hearing June 28 about the approaching Manchaca Road widening project.

The project, which addresses the south end of Manchaca Road from Ravenscroft Drive to FM 1626, will add a second lane in each direction and create a center turn lane, said Jesse Bullard, one of the project's managers with TxDOT. Pedestrian sidewalks and bike accommodations will be added to the area.

Proposed improvements will help mitigate expected increases in traffic from future area development and traffic demands.

Bullard said placing noise barriers at certain location on the road could mitigate potential noise created by the increased capacity of the road.

According to a timeline presented at the meeting, TxDOT expects the project to get environmental clearance this summer. Project design could be completed by spring 2019, followed by bidding in the summer. Construction is scheduled to begin fall 2019, which could be completed by summer 2021.

The proposed improvements are separate from the corridor-wide project that is being designed by the city of Austin to address traffic and pedestrian concerns along all of Manchaca Road.