1.  Slaughter Creek at I-35


The Texas Department of Transportation began work May 2 on a yearlong project to replace the Slaughter Creek overpass at I-35 and build a new southbound-to-northbound U-turn bridge.


Contractor Capital Excavation is working on the overpass, according to a TxDOT news release. The project—the first of many as part of the Mobility 35 initiative—also includes adding safety lighting from Slaughter Lane to Onion


Transportation Updates SWACreek Parkway and widening the southbound I-35 frontage road to two lanes through the intersection at Slaughter Creek, according to TxDOT.


TxDOT spokesperson Kelli Reyna said rebuilding the bridge will necessitate a full overpass closure sometime in June. During that time, drivers making a U-turn will have to use Onion Creek or Slaughter Lane instead.


Timeline: May 2016-May 2017
Cost: $9.2 million
Funding sources: Texas Proposition 1



Transportation Updates SWA2. SH 45 SW design phase


The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority is finalizing design and plans to request construction bids this year for the proposed limited-access, four-lane, 3.6-mile toll road connecting MoPac to FM 1626 in Hays County. Preliminary approval of construction funding was received at the December Texas Transportation Commission board meeting, and final approval is pending. A coalition sued TxDOT and the Mobility Authority in February to stop SH 45 SW, and the Mobility Authority filed a response April 26.


Timeline: TBD, pending lawsuit outcome
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



3. Hwy. 71 Improvement Project


TxDOT is wrapping up work on Phase 4, which is slated to be completed by spring, that includes the portion of the Hwy. 71 project area from Silvermine Drive to just south of Scenic Brook. That work involves adding shoulders and continuous center turn lanes and began in mid-October. TxDOT plans to begin Phase 5, paving of the entire project area, before the end of May. When the project is complete, parts of the project area will have five lanes, including two travel lanes in each direction, a dedicated center left-turn lane, shoulders and new pavement. 


Timeline: summer 2014-summer 2016
Cost: $15.9 million
Funding sources: TxDOT 



4. Bicycle/pedestrian bridge on Loop 1 over Barton Creek Greenbelt


Construction is still in progress on a bicycle and pedestrian bridge slated to be completed this summer. Partnering with the city of Austin, TxDOT is constructing the bridge, which has a shared-use path along northbound Loop 1 lanes over the Barton Creek Greenbelt from one frontage road turnaround to the other near Loop 1’s intersections with Southwest Parkway and Loop 360. Remaining work includes bridge abutment, railing and lighting work for the bridge, and sidewalk tie-ins.


Timeline: February 2014-summer 2016
Cost: $7.7 million
Funding sources: TxDOT, city of Austin



5. South Congress Avenue upgrades


TxDOT moved traffic onto the new pavement in mid-March to allow drainage upgrade work on the west side of the roadway to continue. TxDOT is making Congress Avenue upgrades from Foremost Drive to Eberhart Lane. The revamped road will include five lanes as well as upgraded drainage facilities, bike lanes and new sidewalks along the west side of Congress and new sidewalks in a few places on the east side of the road. The project is slated to be complete before summer begins.


Timeline: October 2014-late spring/early summer 2016
Cost: $6.3 million
Funding sources: TxDOT