The 3.6-mile limited access toll road would connect MoPac South to FM 1626.[/caption]

The proposed SH 45 SW project took another step forward June 15 after the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority board approved seeking bids to construct the new toll road.

On June 30 the agency will advertise bids for construction and receive the bids by July 30. The board could award the construction contract at its Aug. 3 meeting, according to board documents. Justin Word, the Mobility Authority’s director of engineering, said he anticipates giving the selected contractor the notice to proceed on construction Oct. 1.

Bob Moore, senior executive assistant to Travis County Commissioner Gerald Daugherty, told the board that SH 45 SW has been the commissioner’s most important project.

“[SH] 45 SW is the commissioner’s passion,” he said. “… This road and road issues are his passion. Please understand his commitment to 45 SW as he seeks your continued support.”

The new four-lane, limited-access toll road will be 3.6 miles long and connect from MoPac South in Travis County to FM 1626 in Hays County. Construction will cost $76 million, and the total project cost is $108 million, which includes design and contingency.

The project includes about $3 million in bicycle and pedestrian improvements, including a 4.5 mile shared-use path. The Mobility Authority is also continuing to work with Travis County to build a small trailhead near Bliss Spillar Road.

Funding comes from four sources: $15 million from Travis County, $5 million from Hays County, $28.9 million in a toll equity grant from the Texas Department of Transportation and $60 million from a TxDOT toll equity loan, Word said.

The goal of building SH 45 SW is to provide increased mobility to southern Travis County and northern Hays County residents, including on Brodie Lane, Manchaca Road and Slaughter Lane. Word said according to traffic modeling studies, South Austin-area roadways from SH 45 to Ben White Boulevard could see increased mobility and reduced travel times by up to 70 percent.

“If we move to construction of [SH 45 SW] we believe that the local routes will see as much as a 25 percent reduction in their travel times just from the traffic being drawn on this facility,” he said. “Not only does it help the area but it also helps other local facilities.”

Construction will also be phased, which Word said came out of technical work group meetings as a priority for local stakeholders. He said it will also help with managing water quality because the project is located in the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone and Water Quality Protection Lands. The Mobility Authority will be able to remove 98 percent of solid particles in stormwater runoff in the recharge areas, Word said.

Real estate agent Vikki Goodwin said she has lived in Shady Hollow since 1993. She travels a lot throughout the Austin area from Liberty Hill to Kyle and supports building SH 45 SW.

“I see a lot of roads, and I think that Brodie Lane is one that really needs some help,” she said.

Southwest Austin resident Laureen Chernow said she has seen many changes in increased traffic since 1983.

“The city of Austin … has allowed considerable development in the city south of Slaughter Lane and that too adds to congestion,” she said. “Many of these people are trying to get elsewhere, to jobs, visit family and shopping. We need this road, and we need it soon.”

She said despite concerns about the project damaging the aquifer, the drainage in the area will be cleaner than it is now.

“I think that’s great; nobody wants to harm the aquifer,” she said.