Construction on continuous-flow intersections, or CFIs, between Hwy. 71 and Joe Tanner Lane on Hwy. 290 is slated to be complete by summer, said Kelli Reyna, public information officer with the Texas Department of Transportation.

Reyna and Victor Vargas, south Travis area engineer, spoke to Oak Hill Business and Professional Association members Feb. 5 at the group's monthly luncheon.

"Anyone who has driven through this area knows something has to be done," Reyna said.

TxDOT, the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority, the city of Austin and Travis County are conducting the Oak Hill Parkway environmental study to identify a long-term solution for the congested intersection of Hwy. 290 and Hwy. 71, known as the Y at Oak Hill.

In addition to that study, TxDOT is making interim improvements on Hwy. 290, including the CFIs, to provide temporary relief for local drivers.

Reyna said work on new CFIs is still in progress. At CFIs, lanes are moved to allow a driver to turn left while at the same time a driver on the opposite side of the intersection can drive straight ahead.

Vargas said TxDOT has built similar intersections in San Marcos, and drivers adjusted quickly to the new design.

TxDOT finished work in September on the first phase of the improvements, which included adding widened lanes, larger shoulders and double-left-turn lanes to the intersections of Hwy. 290 at FM 1826 and Convict Hill Road, Reyna said.

"Our [traffic models] show that [the changes] will improve travel time by 30 to 50 percent, and so it will definitely be helpful for anybody who is driving to or through this area," Reyna said.