REGIONAL REPORT
I 35 North project breaks ground
The I-35 North project will make several changes to I-35 and the surrounding area, including adding a new nontolled high-occupancy vehicle lane in each direction along the length of the project.
CHANGES ON THE WAY
corridor—who ultimately look forward to its completion in 2029. “There’s going to be multiple years of construction, and it is going to be a bit of a challenge as we go through the construction phase of that project, but I think in the long run, once it’s complete, it will be a huge benet to commuters,” said Cynthia Long, Williamson County Precinct 2 Com- missioner and chair of the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization. The ocial project groundbreaking occurred March 29. Plan for relief The need for the project arose from studies showing I-35 as one of the most congested roads in Texas, said Bradley Wheelis, a public information ocer for the Texas Department of Transportation. Project funding was approved in September and comes from TxDOT and CAMPO, the region’s transporta- tion planning group. The largest change on the way with the I-35 North project includes the addition of a nontolled high-occu- pancy vehicle lane in each direction. That lane is intended for use by vehicles with more than two people, such as individuals carpooling and buses. This will result in 30-36 minutes saved for HOV lane users in peak trac times, according to TxDOT. The project will also add a lane to the north- and southbound frontage roads along the length of the project. Roughly 18 miles of shared-use paths will be built beside most of I-35’s frontage road for use by pedestrians and cyclists, TxDOT said. Additionally, the I-35 North project will reconstruct six bridges with pedestrian and bicycle paths at Grand Avenue Parkway, Wells Branch Parkway, Howard Lane, Walnut Creek, Braker Lane and Rundberg Lane. Bypass roads will also be built near several intersections to allow drivers to avoid busy areas. Similar to the project underway in Georgetown at I-35 and Williams Drive, TxDOT will build a diverging diamond interchange and new bridge at Wells Branch, Wheelis said. The interchange allows large amounts of turning trac to turn at once by diverting drivers to the opposite side of the road for a short
BY GRACE DICKENS
45 TOLL
Improved mobility is the goal of the $606 million I-35 North project that began on a section of the roadway south of Georgetown in March. Slated to add a main lane in each direction, create a diverging diamond interchange and expand frontage roads, the project on I-35 from Hwy. 290 East to SH 45 N has raised concerns for residents and businesses throughout the project—as well as those who frequently travel the
GREENLAWN BLVD.
KEY
GRAND AVE. PKWY. New bypass lanes Additional shared- use paths Reconstructed bridges New HOV lanes Frontage road widening Existing main lanes
35
W. PECAN ST.
Number of lanes
#
DIVERGING DIAMOND The Texas Department of Transportation will construct a new diverging diamond under I-35 at Wells Branch Parkway, allowing two lanes of trac to temporarily shift across the opposite side of the road to move more trac at once. A
WELLS BRANCH PKWY.
A
MOPAC
HOWARD LN.
WELLS BRANCH PKWY.
35
1
B
3
2
3 1
2
2
3
HOWARD LN.
35
2
PARMER LN.
2
TECH RIDGE BLVD.
3
1 3
1
3
35
2
N
HOWARD LANE In addition to new main lanes on I-35, work on Howard Lane will add a northbound bypass lane, widen existing lanes, rebuild the bridge and create shared-use paths in the area. B
1
35
2
3
4
2
4
2
2
2
1
3
2
4
183
1
35
290
N
MAP NOT TO SCALE N
SOURCE: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATIONCOMMUNITY IMPACT
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