Transportation
BY BEN THOMPSON & GRACIE WARHURST
BY JESSICA MCLAREN
Austin shutters South Terminal as airport expansion continues The South Terminal at Austin-Bergstrom Inter- national Airport o cially shut down March 31 after less than a decade in operation. The gist The auxiliary terminal will be demolished to make way for new mideld taxiways as part of the multiyear airport campus expansion, known as Journey with AUS. That includes the addition of the 26-gate Concourse B with a new connecting tunnel to the existing Barbara Jordan Terminal, and the development of a temporary six-gate southern terminal called Concourse M. Looking back City aviation o cials rst announced plans to remove the South Terminal due to the airport
Liberty Hill road project puts school safety rst Williamson County o cials marked the start of a project to construct Legacy Ranch Drive March 6. Located near the new Liberty Hill ISD Legacy Ranch High School, opening in the fall, the project will expand 0.6 miles of the road from the CR 258 and CR 260 intersection to the CR 258 extension. The project also includes two new tra c signals, pavement overlay and right-turn lanes into the new school. “When we talk about school safety, your mind goes in a thousand directions,” County Judge and former LHISD Superintendent Steve Snell said. “But at its very core, it’s getting every single kid to school safely and home safely. Transportation [and] roads are a big part of that.”
3 Legacy Ranch Drive expansion Project: Plans for the roadway, formerly known as CR 258, include expanding roughly 0.6 miles from Seward Junction North Loop (CR 258 and CR 260) to the CR 258 extension east of US 183 with two new signals, pavement overlay and right-turn lanes into a future Liberty Hill ISD school site. Update: Contractors broke ground on the project March 6. • Timeline: March 2026-summer 2026 • Cost: $1.4 million • Funding source: Williamson County 2023 road bond 4 RM 2243, Hero Way controlled-access highway Project: The roadway will be reconstructed and widened along RM 2243 and Hero Way into a divided, controlled-access highway from 183A Toll to Southwest Bypass. The existing rural two-lane roadway will be expanded into two main lanes running in each direction alongside two three-lane frontage roads. Update: Crews broke ground on the ¢rst phase of the project in late January, working to construct the ¢rst frontage road from 183A Toll to Garey Park. • Timeline: early 2026-early 2028 • Cost: $132 million • Funding source: Williamson County 2019 road bond
Ongoing projects
3405
1 Ronald Reagan Boulevard lane widening Project: Crews are working to widen 7 miles of roadway along Ronald Reagan Boulevard from FM 3405 to SH 29 with a northbound-only section and a separate two- lane southbound road. Update: Construction is currently underway. • Timeline: August 2024-summer 2027 • Cost: $52.4 million • Funding source: Williamson County 2019 road bond 2 San Gabriel Parkway extension Project: Work includes extending San Gabriel Parkway eastward from Isaias Drive to Ronald W. Reagan Boulevard between Palmera Ridge and Palmera Blu subdivisions as an arterial roadway. Update: Construction is ongoing, and a trac signal at San Gabriel Parkway and Ronald Reagan Boulevard is expected to be operational by early 2026. • Timeline: January 2025-February 2027 • Cost: $7 million • Funding source: city of Leander certiicates of obligation bonds
71
183
BARBARA JORDAN TERMINAL
183
258
LEGACY RANCH DR.
3
1
258
973
AUSTIN SOUTH TERMINAL
213
N
260
COURTESY AUSTINBERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
29
expansion in 2021. However, the city had agreed to a 30-year lease agreement with LoneStar to rehabilitate and operate the terminal. The city then sought to take over business at the terminal via eminent domain proceedings authorized in 2022, leading LoneStar to le suit over claims including breach of contract. Austin spent millions on legal services and was ordered to pay $90 million to resolve the takeover litigation.
183A TOLL
266
RONALD REAGAN BLVD.
GAREY PARK RD.
2
ISAIAS DR.
HERO WAY
4
2243
183A TOLL
PALMERA RIDGE BLVD.
270
SAN GABRIEL PKWY.
RONALD REAGAN BLVD.
MAP NOT TO SCALE N
HYMEADOW 12611 Hymeadow (512) 506-8401
NORTH 620 10601 N FM 620 (512) 506-8316
CEDAR PARK 13530 Ronald Reagan Blvd (512) 986-7681
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