Transportation Updates Southwest Austin

1. New Hwy. 71 lanes

Phase 1 CompleteThe Texas Department of Transportation opened new lanes of Hwy. 71 on Sept. 2. Once striping work is complete the road will be a four-lane section with two lanes in each direction from Thomas Springs Road to Southwest Parkway. Phase 1 of the project included expanding a center turn lane, widening shoulders and adding a signal at the Southwest Parkway intersection. The road had been reduced to two lanes since March. An additional turn lane along Hwy. 71 is slated to open after paving is complete this fall, according to TxDOT.

  • Timeline: summer 2014-summer 2016 for project overall
  • Cost: $15.9 million
  • Funding sources: TxDOT

2. Behind schedule: Frate Barker Road widening

The project will widen the road to a four-lane section from east of Brodie Lane to Manchaca Road with a continuous center left-turn lane. AT&T utility relocation work has delayed the project, but work on that is expected to be completed by the end of September.

  • Timeline: February 2014–summer 2017
  • Cost: about $7 million for construction
  • Funding sources: Travis County, TxDOT

3. Ongoing: MoPac Intersections Environmental Study

The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority held a public hearing July 30 about the environmental study, which examines possible improvements on Loop 1 at the intersections of Slaughter Lane and La Crosse Avenue to alleviate traffic congestion and increase safety. The project team is reviewing schematics for a diverging diamond interchange at Slaughter as well as for an underpass design in which Loop 1 would go under Slaughter and LaCrosse.

  • Timeline: study began in May 2013, will take two to three years to complete
  • Cost: about $45 million for construction
  • Funding sources: TxDOT

4. Now open: Y at Oak Hill continuous-flow intersections

TxDOT has built continuous-flow intersections on Hwy. 290 between Hwy. 71 and Joe Tanner Lane. TxDOT opened the intersection at Hwy. 290 and Joe Tanner Lane in August 2014, and opened the intersection at Hwy. 290 and Hwy. 71 in May. Workers had to move a water line under the road at Hwy. 290 and William Cannon Drive before TxDOT opened that intersection Sept. 9.

  • Timeline: October 2013-September 2015
  • Cost: $6.5 million
  • Funding sources: TxDOT, city of Austin, Travis County

5. SH 45 SW design phase

The Mobility Authority said it identified opportunities earlier this year to enhance the design environmentally cleared by TxDOT for the limited-access, four-lane, 3.6-mile toll road connecting MoPac to FM 1626 in Hays County. The Mobility Authority expects to request construction bids early next year.

  • Timeline: spring 2016-spring 2018
  • Cost: $100 million (Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization estimate)
  • Funding sources: Travis and Hays counties, Mobility Authority, TxDOT Toll Equity grant, TxDOT Toll Equity loan

6. Loop 360  auxiliary lanes

TxDOT will add auxiliary lanes on Loop 360 to improve intersections with Walsh Tarlton Lane, the Barton Creek Square Mall entrance, Loop 1 and the intersection just south of Loop 1. A left-turn lane will also be added on the northbound frontage road of Loop 1 at Loop 360. TxDOT plans to open the project to contractor bids in September.

  • Timeline: winter 2015-spring 2017
  • Cost: $5.1 million
  • Funding sources: TxDOT