Building the Framework for Greater Mobility

The Mobility Authority is forging ahead with mobility solutions aimed at meeting our growing region’s diverse transportation needs. With a variety of projects in various stages of environmental study, development, and construction, we’re charting the course for a comprehensive roadway network that will bring faster, safer and more reliable drive times to Central Texas commuters.

Setting the foundation for that network are our open roads: 183A Toll, 290 Toll, the MoPac Express Lane and the 71 Toll Lane. With usage greater than projected, it’s clear that drivers recognize the benefits these alternate routes provide when they need to bypass congestion. We’re working hard to expand those options even further across Central Texas. With the MoPac Express Lane now open to traffic, we are shifting our focus on our two other projects in active construction, each with the common goal of improved mobility, enhanced connectivity, and the added choice that commuters have long demanded. 


MoPac Improvement Project: Express Lane to the Future

The MoPac Improvement Project was the Mobility Authority’s most high-profile, and by far our most complex project to date. We are excited that the northbound and southbound Express Lanes are now open to traffic and already providing reliable drive times for commuters. In the coming months, we will put the final finishes on this project, such as completing the sound walls and the landscaping.

This project was developed to address congestion on one of Austin’s most notoriously congested corridors, as all of our region’s other north-south facilities have reached or are nearing capacity. Working within the constraints of a tight urban corridor, with no opportunity to acquire additional right of way, this project turned out to be quite an undertaking. With Camp Mabry on the west side, residences on the east side, and the Union Pacific Railroad in the center median, we had to think outside the box to design this expansion project within the roadway’s existing footprint.

Admittedly, the contractor encountered challenges considerably more complicated than anticipated. Unmarked utilities, harder than expected bedrock and a worker shortage all led to delays. But we used every tool in our toolbox to get both the northbound and southbound Express Lanes open to traffic. We also implemented adjustments to make the final project even better for the community. For example, we revised the design to provide more efficient express lane access into and out of downtown via undercrossings, and continually endeavored to minimize impacts to the traveling public by performing the majority of work at night. 
 

183 South: Building for the Future

The 183 South Project is in full swing on the east side of Austin. This project will modernize one of our region’s most gridlocked corridors to an expressway with triple its current capacity. In addition to ample capacity for tolled and non-tolled travel, the project will mobilize the east Austin bicycle and pedestrian community through the addition of bike lanes, shared use paths, and sidewalks.

One of the biggest, and perhaps the most overlooked aspect of this job is the extensive repair, relocation and installation of various utilities along the US 183 corridor. The infrastructure was originally planned and installed decades ago with minimal renovations in recent years. Our team is addressing gaps and upgrading the network in order to meet the needs of the future we are building for with the 183 South Project. 

And it’s about time the east side saw some relief and improvement. For years, the City has invested in other areas of town while US 183 has gotten consistently more congested. We are well on our way to providing greater connectivity for local residents and travelers to the airport. 
 

SH 45SW: An Environmentally-Sensitive Design for Greater Mobility 

The SH 45SW project is our other project in active construction, aimed at providing northern Hays and southern Travis County commuters a more efficient, environmentally sensitive alternative. Last summer, a federal court ruled in favor of the project, finally putting to rest a series of allegations that questioned the environmental responsibility of the project’s design and construction plans. While construction operations were allowed to continue pending the ruling, this judgment validates the findings and legitimacy of the environmental study process, which rightfully followed all state and federal regulations while evaluating the project’s impact on the human and natural environment. In fact, the project design includes plans for water quality protection measures that exceed the requirements, demonstrating our agency’s steadfast commitment to preserving our precious resources while meeting the evolving mobility needs of our region.  

Balancing the population’s need for new infrastructure with measures to protect this beautiful and sensitive environment requires thoughtful planning and careful construction. We are proud to forge ahead with planning for the needs of tomorrow in a manner that respects the environment and prioritizes safety. When this project is complete in 2019, the new SH 45SW will offer relief to drivers by redirecting commuter traffic off of Manchaca Road, Slaughter Lane and Brodie Lane, thereby improving safety and allowing these local roads to better serve local neighborhoods.