AUSTIN (KXAN) — As 2024 comes to a close, we want to update you on a few significant road and highway projects underway in the Austin area — what crews are doing, how projects are coming along and what's next.
In Williamson County, northwest of Austin, you'll find the 138A Phase Three project, which is wrapping up soon. The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority is constructing two tolled lanes in each direction between Hero Way in Leander to just north of Highway 29 in Liberty Hill. It's a $259 million project that kicked off in 2021 and should be done in early 2025.
"They're seeing a lot of that work getting completed out there in the middle between the two existing frontage roads. They've made a lot of progress. If you drive out there, you'll see a lot of roadway that's complete. Signs are up. Things are getting closer and closer to everyone being able to use those facilities and have a little bit easier drive out to Liberty Hill area," said Mike Sexton, the CTRMA director of engineering.
The expansion spans about six miles and was built primarily within the existing median.
Once complete, you'll also see access road improvements and a shared-use path for people walking or biking.
In northwest Austin, construction on the 183 North Project along Highway 183 between MoPac and State Highway 45 Northwest is trucking along. It's a nine-mile stretch of road where the CTRMA is constructing two tolled lanes and an additional free lane in each direction.
"This past summer, we opened the fourth general purpose lane, so we opened a lane early. We had a conversation with our contractor to incentivize them to get it done over the summer. So that school year kicked off with extra capacity out there. It's been a great boom to traffic. We've seen 10 to 20% improvements in travel times to that corridor," said Sexton.
CTRMA is also reconstructing the connecting ramps at 183 and MoPac, so that in the near future, you'll have the option to take a toll lane from downtown Austin to Cedar Park. These toll lanes will also be variable pricing like the MoPac Express lane is.
We get asked frequently about where the money goes from the tolls. The CTRMA said it funnels the dollars collected through the tolls into building more projects. The 183 North Project costs $612 million.
Then there's the MoPac South Project. You have a few more days to let the CTRMA know what you think and to share recommendations about the MoPac South Project. The CTRMA has been considering adding a toll lane in each direction on the south portion of MoPac from downtown at Lady Bird Lake to Slaughter Lane near Circle C in southwest Austin. The project however has faced numerous hurdles, including a lawsuit and the pandemic. But after two open houses this year it's gaining new momentum.
"We are hoping people will either attend in person or go online. You can always go to our website and go into that project and see our virtual open house. It's very critical for us to get a lot of public input," said Sexton.
