Mayor Steve Adler voted to approve traffic improvement projects on IH-35 in Austin at last night’s meeting of the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization.
“IH-35 where it goes through Austin is the worst road in Texas, and last night we did something about it,” Mayor Adler said. “Improving mobility in Austin is one of the top challenges we face in Austin, and tonight we met part of that challenge. These improvements won’t fix everything, but they will make a real difference on a really bad road.”
One project (0015-13-378) will add shoulders, auxiliary lanes, and ramp improvements, rehab pavement, make bike and pedestrian improvements, and deal with the road intersection at I-35 and Oltorf. This will cost $54,512,000 and be paid for with Proposition 1 money from the state of Texas in FY 2016.
Another project (0015-13-380) makes improvements to the IH-35/51st Street interchange. The project will construct a new roundabout at the intersection of the I-35 southbound frontage road and 51st Street intersection, minimizing delay particularly in the off-peak hours and increasing safety. The southbound frontage road will be realigned to make room for the addition of a collector-distributor road between the main lanes and frontage road, reducing congestion at the roundabout. Bicycle and pedestrian facilities will be improved.
Construction will begin next year. The IH-35/51st Street interchange will $10,517,000 from the state and $9.2 million from the city of Austin to be considered at Thursday’s city council meeting.