Earlier this year, the Mobility Authority’s Board of Directors and staff, along with Texas Department of Transportation officials, celebrated the start of construction of the 290/130 Flyovers Project in east Austin. 

Anticipated completion of the $127 million project is late 2021.

A symbolic merging of dirt collected from each roadway highlighted the celebration and sealed the partnership which includes constructing one non-tolled and two tolled flyovers at the interchange of the Mobility Authority’s 290 Toll and TxDOT’s SH 130. 

The project became necessary because of the high demand for the 290 Toll Road, which led to congestion at the frontage road intersection with SH 130. As noted by Ray Wilkerson, Chairman of the Mobility Authority Board of Directors, transactions on 290 Toll are growing at a rate of 10-to-15 percent per year. 

“In order to keep Central Texans moving, commuters need a safe and efficient link between the two roadways,” he said. 

Former Mobility Authority Board Member James Mills first observed the congestion issues at the 290 Toll/SH 130 frontage road, especially during the morning rush hour for drivers on southbound SH 130 trying to head west on 290 Toll. He brought this to the attention of the Board of Directors and plans were developed for mobility improvements. In recognition of his advocacy, the north-to-west and south-to-west bridges will be named in his honor.

• Reducing potential for high-speed rear-end collisions on SH 130;
• Eliminating queuing of vehicles on the southbound and northbound mainlanes of SH 130;
• Saving about $5 million a year for the traveling public in time as well as fuel and vehicle costs;
• Attracting more than 5,000 vehicles per day from parallel roadways, thereby providing additional congestion relief to other corridors;
• Increasing the average speed by up to 40 miles per hour;
• Shifting approximately 67 percent of vehicles off the southbound SH 130 frontage road and onto the new flyover ramp to westbound 290 Toll;
• Reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 1,020 metric tons annually; and
• Attracting economic development opportunities to the region by way of enhanced local and regional connectivity.

The Mobility Authority is taking a proactive approach when it comes to meeting mobility needs along the 183A Toll Road in Williamson County, as residents learned in an open house last year.
 
The tremendous population growth, particularly in Cedar Park, Leander, and Liberty Hill, makes the need for the 183A Phase III improvements critical for continued quality of life and sustainable community growth. Projections show that between 2016 and 2040 Cedar Park’s population is projected to grow by 31 percent, Liberty Hill by approximately 44 percent, and Leander will see a drastic 271 percent. This population boom is expected to drive up traffic volumes along US 183 by 166 percent over the next 25 years, driving the need for proactive congestion relief.
 
The proposed solution is to extend the existing 183A Toll Road from Hero Way to CR 213/258, north of SH 29, adding two tolled lanes in each direction along the 6.6-mile stretch with plans for a third lane in the future. This solution will:

The proposed 183A Phase III Project would provide a 10-foot-wide, paved bicycle and pedestrian shared use path from Hero Way to the planned Seward Junction South. What remains of an old low-water crossing over the South Fork San Gabriel River would be replaced or renovated to provide a river crossing for the shared use path. A connecting trail spur would be included to provide trail access to the City of Leander’s planned South San Gabriel River park.
 
Currently, the 183A Toll Road Phase III Environmental Assessment is underway, and the team is studying the potential impacts of the design to the human and natural environment. The designs and results of the environmental study will be presented in spring 2019 at a public hearing for the public’s review and feedback. The public will be notified when a date has been set.
 
Information about the project can be obtained online at www.183A.com or by contacting the project team via email at 183aphase3@ctrma.org or by phone at 512-996-9778.

Commuters traveling one of Austin’s most congested routes will experience much less stress in the future when capacity is expanded along a 9-mile stretch of US 183 North between SH 45 North and MoPac.
 
The 183 North Mobility Project will add two tolled express lanes in each direction in the middle of US 183, while the existing US 183 will be expanded to four non-tolled general-purpose lanes in each direction. The project also includes adding a direct connector between the MoPac Express Lane and the proposed new express lanes on US 183, allowing for uninterrupted commutes from far north Austin and Williamson County to downtown Austin or beyond.
 
Selection of a contractor to complete final design and construct the roadway will begin this spring. The project is anticipated to break ground in early 2021, and construction is expected to last approximately four years.