South Manchaca Road widening project could be completed next spring

The Texas Department of Transportation has begun work on a project to widen Manchaca Road from Ravenscroft Drive to FM 1626 near Menchaca Elementary School. TxDOT broke ground on the $12.1 million effort in December and expects the project to be completed by spring 2021, representative Bradley Wheelis said.

The 1.14-mile stretch of road under development is outside Austin’s city limits and has retained the Manchaca moniker despite the roadway’s name change to Menchaca within the city limits.

TxDOT moved forward with the widening after receiving feedback from several public hearings held in 2018 and is on track with the timeline presented at that time.

Improvements to the road involve expanding it to four travel lanes and adding center turn lanes, bicycle lanes, and Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant sidewalks and curb ramps, according to TxDOT. Stormwater drainage improvements will also be installed.

The changes to this portion of the roadway are unrelated to the city of Austin’s corridorwide effort to improve mobility along 8 miles of Menchaca Road with funding from the 2016 mobility bond.

According to materials from TxDOT, this specific stretch of the roadway requires attention due to an expected increase in population and development, with an anticipated 38% increase in traffic by 2035. Additionally, the project is an effort to remedy the lack of pedestrian and bicycle accommodations along the stretch.