Austin’s Plan To Improve Safety, Reduce Congestion On MLK Blvd For Motorists, Pedestrians And Bicyclists

City staff are working on plans for other corridor improvements to Manchaca Road from Slaughter Lane to Farm-to-Market 1626, South Congress from Lady Bird Lake to Slaughter Lane and…

Austin city officials are considering a new plan by the Corridor Mobility Program Office to improve Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard (MLK) between U.S. 183 and North Lamar Blvd.

The changes include improving the timing of traffic lights on MLK from Lamar to Interstate 35 and reducing the number of lanes on the roadway between I-35 and Airport Blvd., according to Mandy McClendon, a public information specialist for the corridor program.

That section of MLK would then have one travel lane in each direction with a center turn lane rather than the existing two travel lanes in each direction. A wide sidewalk to be shared by pedestrians and bicyclists would be built between U.S.183 and Airport, Blvd., she noted.

Funds from a 2016 bond were spent for the design of the new corridor plan for MLK. City officials would need to locate another funding source such as bonds, state and federal grants in addition to the city partnering with developers, businesses and other public entities to upgrade MLK Blvd.

City staff are working on plans for other corridor improvements to Manchaca Road from Slaughter Lane to Farm-to-Market 1626, South Congress from Lady Bird Lake to Slaughter Lane and South Pleasant Valley Road from Oltorf Street to Slaughter Lane.