TxDOT to present modified alternatives to $4.9B I-35 Central Expansion project

The city of Austin Mobility Committee is set to review the modified alternatives to the Cap and Stitch Design Strategy on January 20 for inclusion in the I-35 Capital Express Central Expansion.

Their meeting precedes a January 25 CapEX VOICE, or Volunteer Opportunity in Community Engagement, working group meeting where the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) project team will present the changes and project updates.

The I-35 Capital Express Central project is located in the central region of the Austin metropolitan area for 8 miles along I-35 between U.S. 290 East and SH 71/Ben White Boulevard, with additional flyovers at I-35 and U.S. 290 East.

Proposed improvements include removing the existing I-35 decks, lowering the roadway, and adding two non-tolled high-occupancy vehicle managed lanes in each direction along I-35 from US 290 East to SH 71/Ben White Boulevard, with additional flyovers at I-35 and US 290 East.

The project will also reconstruct east-west cross-street bridges, add pedestrian and bicycle paths, and make additional safety and mobility improvements within the project limits.

After presenting designs for the Capital Express Central project at a virtual public meeting over the summer of 2021, TxDOT is now preparing to present its preferred alternative in fall 2022.

TxDOT and the city of Austin are coordinating during weekly and monthly meetings to improve safety and mobility for all modes of transportation along the corridor, ensure it is operationally efficient for local and regional traffic, and increase connectivity within Austin.

Some of these changes include lowered lanes through the project corridor and pedestrian bridges between U.S. 290 East/51st Street and at the Red Line crossing near Airport Boulevard. A Single-Point Urban Interchange is proposed for Airport Boulevard with improved operations for the Project Connect Blue Line. In addition, Austin is working with TxDOT on a “signature” bicycle-pedestrian bridge at Lady Bird Lake among other pedestrian and bicycle improvements.

The estimated construction cost is $4.9 billion with construction scheduled to start in late 2025. Funding is coming from TxDOT and the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO).

Source: Strategic Partnerships