Transportation Updates, Central Austin

 

1. MoPac exit temporarily closed

MoPac exit temporarily closed Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority closed the Cesar Chavez/Fifth streets southbound exit starting July 13, redirecting motorists to the Enfield Road exit immediately north.[/caption] Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority closed the Cesar Chavez/Fifth streets southbound exit starting July 13, redirecting motorists to the Enfield Road exit immediately north. However, the Lake Austin Boulevard exit, which has been closed since late April, has reopened. Southbound motorists should use the center or right lanes prior to the Enfield Road exit to access Cesar Chavez and Fifth streets. The temporary multi-street exit ramp is expected to be in place three to five months to allow crews space to complete a southbound express lane underpass into downtown. Timeline: October 2013-late 2015 Cost: $204 million Funding sources: state/federal funds

2. I-35 ramp, improvements

A quarter-mile stretch of I-35 from 53rd Street to Barbara Jordan Boulevard is being reconstructed to include a northbound off-ramp from the I-35 frontage road to 51st Street and Cameron Road. Other improvements will allow bicyclists and pedestrians safer access in the area across the I-35 corridor. Timeline: September 2014-winter 2015 Cost: $2.9 million Funding sources: city of Austin

3. East 51st Street road improvements

Crews will perform routine street maintenance on 51st Street between Manor Road and US 183. The road will also be resurfaced and restriped from its existing two-lane configuration in each direction to one lane in each direction with a center turn lane. Dedicated bicycle lanes will also be added in each direction. An intersection analysis was performed to determine what signal changes were needed to prevent any negative effects from the lane reconfiguration. Timeline: Starting in late September Cost: $30,000 Funding sources: city of Austin

4. San Jacinto Boulevard bicycle lanes

Austin Transportation Department is considering improvements to the bicycle lanes between Speedway and Duval Street. An open house was held July 8 to share details about the project, which involves creating a parking-protected southbound bicycle lane and a green-painted northbound bicycle lane without removing any on-street parking spaces; however, the street would be configured from one northbound lane and two southbound lanes to one lane in each direction. Also, turn bays will remain at the Speedway, Duval Street and Dean Keeton Street intersections. Timeline: summer-fall 2015 Cost:  TBD Funding sources: city of Austin

Detour: Shoal Creek Boulevard wastewater pipe repair

Northbound lanes of Shoal Creek Boulevard between FM 2222 and White Rock Drive will close to allow Austin Water Utility to repair 4,700 feet of a 48-inch wastewater pipeline. Lanes will reopen after three weeks, with intermittent closures likely until new pavement is installed. Timeline: July 18-Aug. 8 (northbound road closure); construction until end of August Cost: TBD Funding sources: Austin Water Utility