The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority is still targeting Oct. 28 or Nov. 4 for the opening, Executive Director Mike Heiligenstein said.
Most paving work should be complete by Saturday, he said. In the next week crews will be completing striping, installing delineator sticks that separate the main lanes from the express lane, and calibrating sensors that detect traffic flow and speed.
Heiligenstein also acknowledged that the agency has seen spikes in toll rates on the northbound express lane, which fully opened Oct. 7. Staffers are analyzing demand and toll rates and will use that information to anticipate what might happen when the southbound express lane opens, he said.
The toll rate is set using an algorithm, as well as traffic speeds and volumes gathered by cameras and sensors. However, in the first few weeks of operating the new lanes, staffers are also manning the rate and making adjustments as needed to keep the express lanes flowing at 45 mph, he said.
“It’s clear that there’s enough demand that we’re revising our approaching and trying to understand more about that demand and how prevalent that it,” Heiligenstein said.
Southbound MoPac paving work is slated again for this evening, Oct. 19, and drivers can expect the following nighttime closures:
- Right, middle and exit lane from Westover to Enfield roads
- Exit lane from 35th Street to Westover Road
- Left and middle lane from Far West Boulevard to Westover Road
- Rolling closure of right and middle lanes from US 183 to RM 2222
- Windsor Road off-ramp
- Enfield Road off-ramp
- Steck Avenue on-ramp
- 45th Street on-ramp
- 35th Street off-ramp
- Westover Road on-ramp
- Winsted Lane on-ramp
