Interstate 35 Project In Austin Designed To Reduce Bottlenecks

AUSTIN, TX — The Texas Department of Transportation started construction this week on the Interstate 35 from Grand Avenue Parkway to SH 45 North project in Travis County, designed to reduce bottlenecks along this busy stretch of roadway.

To mitigate congestion, the project reverses the northbound I-35 entrance and exit ramps, transportation officials noted.

“I-35 at SH 45 North is a key intersection that connects the surrounding communities of Cedar Park, Pflugerville and Round Rock to Austin,” the agency's Austin District Engineer Tucker Ferguson said in a prepared statement. “Reversing the entrance and exit ramps will improve safety and mobility for motorists on both the northbound mainlanes and the frontage road.”

The increase in traffic volumes in the area has created a backup for those trying to enter and exit the highway. By reversing the northbound I-35 ramps between Grand Avenue Parkway and SH 45 North, TxDOT will help reduce traffic cueing along the northbound I-35 main lanes. Additional project improvements include extending entrance and exit lanes, installing high-mast lighting and making improvements at the intersection of Picadilly Drive and the I-35 frontage road.

This $8.2 million project is funded by the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization and TxDOT. The contractor for the project is Jordan Foster Construction.