This week, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) broke ground on the Interstate 35 Capital Express Central project. The $4.5 billion Texas Clear Lanes project will construct two non-tolled high-occupancy-vehicle (HOV) managed lanes in each direction along I-35 from U.S. Route 290 East to State Highway 71/Ben White Boulevard.
The project will also improve safety, mobility and enhance bicycle and walking paths.
"I have learned that this project has been in the works for many decades, even going back to the 1980s, looking at more ways to make travel more efficient through downtown Austin," says Tucker Ferguson, Austin district engineer for TxDOT, in a statement to Fox 7.
The project will also lower the main lanes from Airport Boulevard to Lady Bird Lake, remove the upper decks, improve transit connections, add boulevard-style segments through downtown and enhance pedestrian and bicycle paths along the corridor.
"Not only are we taking down the upper decks, but we are also lowering the main through the downtown area, we are adding HOV and transit lanes so CapMetro can have more reliable transit times," said Ferguson.
TxDOT is also working with the city of Austin and UT Austin to add deck caps on nearly 40 acres of space to help connect East and West Austin.
"We are going to improve transportation once and for all for the people of the city of Austin," says Texas Transportation Commission Chairman Bruce Bugg.
Protesters have also voiced their opposition to stop the I-35 project from moving forward.
The years-long construction will impact drivers through much of north, downtown and south Austin until around 2028.
A group in opposition to the project called Rethink35 is leading protests against the project moving forward. Miriam Schoenfield, Rethink35 board member said in a news release the "proposed I-35 expansion will waste billions of dollars to commit grievous harm to our city and region."
"Despite overwhelming opposition from residents, elected leaders, and candidates for local office (81% of which oppose the expansion), TxDOT intends to steamroll over our community for a project that will destroy homes, businesses, and parks and worsen congestion, pollution, safety, and quality of life for generations to come," Schoenfield added.
The construction for the project started earlier this month. The first plan of action is to demolish the MLK bridge, according to the timeline provided by TxDOT.
The I-35 Capitol Express Central Project has a timeline of being completed by 2032.
Source: Fox 7, MSN.com
