Construction Begins on Slaughter Creek Overpass

AUSTIN – Construction is underway on the first of many Mobility35 projects in the Austin region.

Starting today, the Texas Department of Transportation is replacing the Slaughter Creek overpass at Interstate 35 and constructing a new southbound to northbound U-turn bridge. In addition, the project includes widening the southbound I-35 frontage road to two lanes through the Slaughter Creek intersection and installing safety lighting from Slaughter Lane to Onion Creek Parkway.

The $9.2 million project will improve mobility and enhance safety along I-35. It is expected to take one year to complete.

“Keeping everyone safe on the roadway is our first priority, especially as roads such as I-35 become increasingly crowded,” said Mike McKissick, TxDOT area engineer. “The new Slaughter Creek bridge will replace the existing narrow bridge that is frequently damaged by vehicles too large to properly make the U-turn movements and will raise the height of the bridge over the I-35 mainlanes to meet today’s standards.”

Construction is funded by voter-approved Proposition 1. Proposition 1, which dedicates a portion of oil and gas tax revenue to the state highway fund, was approved in November 2014 by Texas voters. The Austin District received approximately $120 million in Proposition 1 in fiscal year 2015 and received $82 million in fiscal year 2016.

The contractor for the project is Capital Excavation.