Central Austin, May 2016[/caption]Transportation projects
1. Work on a 1.15-mile, $589,505 Spur 69 safety improvement project is expected to be completed in May. Concrete traffic barriers are being installed in the median along the road from the Capital Metro railroad tracks to I-35. A cable barrier fence is being installed in the median from I-35 to Cameron Road. The purpose of the project is to enhance safety and protect drivers from errant vehicles crossing the median and causing head-on collisions. The project is funded by state district safety funds.
Estimated timeline: March 1-May
2. Construction crews are building a new $29.13 million bridge over Shoal Creek on Second Street and extending the road from Shoal Creek to West Avenue. The bridge will connect downtown to the Seaholm development, which includes the adjacent New Central Library. Known as a “butterfly” bridge because its arches fan out like wings, the 250-foot-long bridge will be complemented by sidewalks.
Estimated timeline: Through September
3. The city is identifying funding for sidewalk improvements along the west side of Rainey Street from Driskill to River streets and the south sides of Davis and Driskill streets. A roundabout at Rainey and River is also set for improvements. The project will cost an estimated $690,000.
Estimated timeline: TBD
US 183/I-35 interchange improvements
Central Austin, May 2016[/caption]The I-35/US 183 interchange is set to receive $203.6 million in improvements, and the public input stage for the project is complete. On May 17, TxDOT closed the public input process for roadwork aimed at increasing connectivity between I-35 and US 183, including improving lane merging on the main lanes. Among the main objectives of the proposed project is to address a conflict between the on-ramp from the northbound I-35 frontage road and the on-ramp for the northbound US 183 flyover, which causes long backups at the interchange. New flyovers connecting southbound I-35 to southbound US 183, southbound I-35 to northbound US 183 and northbound US 183 to northbound I-35 are also proposed. The Texas Department of Transportation expects to receive environmental clearance on the project by the summer. The agency will then solicit bids from contractors beginning fall 2017. Other aspects of the project include the reconstruction of the St. Johns Avenue bridge at I-35, constructing intersection bypass lanes and U-turn bridges, building extended entrance and exit ramps, reconfiguring and improving I-35 ramps and shoulders, and improving bicycle and pedestrian facilities.
Timeline: 2017-2020
Cost: $203.6 million
Funding sources: state congestion-relief fund
