I-35 Projects – Mobility In Central Texas

Sept. 7, 2016
 
AUSTIN – Construction is starting on two projects along I-35 including at 51st Street and Oltorf Street to address congestion on one of the most congested roadway segments in Texas.

Today, the Texas Department of Transportation joined Texas Transportation Commissioner J. Bruce Bugg, State Senator Kirk Watson, city of Austin Mayor Steve Adler, Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization Transportation Policy Board Chair Will Conley, and members of the community at the projects’ groundbreaking ceremony. 

“Our regional congestion problems won’t be solved with one or two projects, nor by focusing on one mode. However, these projects will improve mobility and safety along and across I-35 at these intersections,” Sen. Watson said. “Most importantly, they are part of a larger 10-year plan for I-35 that is essential to relieving traffic congestion throughout our regional transportation system.” 

Both projects received congestion relief initiative funding and will improve mobility, connectivity and safety on this highly congested corridor. 

“The Texas Transportation Commission and TxDOT are committed to addressing gridlock on the state’s most congested roadways in Texas and these projects on I-35 support our broader effort to make this growing state and city livable and accessible for years to come,” Commissioner Bugg said. “These two projects are among many congestion relief projects statewide that will help us more easily move goods and people around the Lone Star state.”

Work on the $16.5 million project at 51st Street includes untying a traffic snarl for drivers by adding a modern roundabout along the southbound frontage road, re-configuring entrance and exit ramps, and adding a bypass lane along the interstate.  

• The modern roundabout design is more efficient than the existing signalized intersection, increasing traffic capacity in the intersection by 30 to 50 percent, resulting in reduced travel time for motorists. It is anticipated that once the project is complete, drivers will travel through the 51st Street intersection on average almost four minutes faster than they do today.

• Construction on the near one-mile project is expected to begin this fall and is anticipated to be complete in early 2019. The project contractor is Capital Excavation Co.

Work on the $42.6 million project at Oltorf Street includes rebuilding the Oltorf Street bridge, improving entrance/exit ramps and frontage roads, adding extended entrance/exit lanes for mainlanes and ramps, and adding north and south U-turns at Oltorf Street.

• Improvements to the mainlanes, frontage roads, and cross-streets are anticipated to reduce wait time at the north and southbound frontage road intersections by up to 37 percent and increase travel speed on the I-35 mainlanes by about 17 mph.  

• Construction on the 1.3-mile project is expected to begin this fall and is anticipated to be complete in spring 2019. The project contractor is OHL USA, Inc. 

 For information on how TxDOT and partners are addressing congestion. visit texasclearlanes.com.  These projects are the first of several congestion relief projects funded by Gov. Greg Abbott and the Texas Legislature.

QUOTES:

Texas Representative Celia Israel: “I am grateful to TxDOT for beginning to take on the challenge that is I-35. We have a long way to go, but I am committed to continue the work at the legislature to help us find solutions involving cars, trucks and mass transit users.”

City of Austin Mayor Steve Adler: “We did a poll that found 17% of people in Austin were satisfied with the flow of traffic in Austin. For the life of me, I cannot figure out why that number is so high. Today we’re breaking ground on two major projects on I-35 that will deliver real relief to traffic congestion in Austin. It’s time to get to work on our biggest problem in Austin, and that’s traffic.”

Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization Transportation Policy Board Chair Will Conley: “This is a great collective effort of all the agencies led by our Governor, I-35 champion Senator Watson, the TxDOT Commission, and the rest of us working together for the citizens of Central Texas to develop projects along I-35 and accomplish the greater plan of improving public safety and our quality of life.”

Austin District Engineer Terry McCoy: “As someone who drives these roads every day, I know how critical I-35 is to mobility in our region. We will continue to work with our partners and the community to transform
I-35 into a smart and efficient highway, and projects like the ones celebrated here today will go a long way toward improving mobility, safety, and connectivity in the region.”