TxDOT calls for IH-35 corridor link feedback

HAYS COUNTY — The Texas Department of Transportation held a series of open-house meetings  Feb. 20-22 to gain community feedback on the IH-35 Austin-San Antonio Link Study from SH 45 to CR 382 (Cibolo Valley Drive). The goal of the open houses is to gain feedback on the draft purpose and need, the range of alternatives developed to address the IH-35 corridor needs and the evaluation process that will be used to identify the feasible and recommended alternatives for this study.

Expanding 46 miles, the study runs through Travis, Hays, Comal and Guadalupe counties and the cities of Buda, Cibolo, Kyle, New Braunfels, San Marcos and Schertz, while aiming to focus on how to link the IH-35 Capital Express project in Travis County to the IH-35 Northeast Expansion project in Guadalupe County, as well as evaluate safety and mobility improvements.

“The greater Austin and San Antonio areas are becoming increasingly linked as one region, requiring coordinated solutions to transportation along I[H]-35,” the presentation read.

Adding a future transportation corridor (FTC) is the primary goal of “Mobility35.” The FTC is a proposed additional capacity for transportation needs, which would sit in between the north and south bound lanes of Ih-35. According to the presentation, “the FTC would provide the single largest mobility gain for IH-35.”

The projects expected to be linked are as follows:

IH-35 Capital Express North

• SH 45 North to us 290 East

• Will add one non-tolled HOV managed lane in each direction

• Will add safety and mobility improvements

• Completion date is in late 2028

IH-35 Capital Express Central

• US 290 East to SH 71/ Ben White Boulevard

• Remove the existing IH-35 decks and lower the roadway

• Will add two non-tolled HOV managed lanes in each direction

• Will add safety and mobility improvements

• Construction is expected to begin in 2024

IH-35 Capital Express South

• SH 71/ Ben White Boulevard to SH 45 Southeast

• Will add two non-tolled HOV managed lanes in each direction

• Anticipated to be completed in late 2028

IH-35 Northeast Expansion North

• FM 3009 to FM 1103

• Will add one non-tolled lane and one general purpose lane in each direction

• Currently in the design phase

IH-35 Northeast Expansion Central

• I-410 North to FM 3009

• Will add two non-tolled lanes in each direction

• Will add safety and mobility improvements

• Anticipated to be completed in late 2024

IH-35 Northeast Expansion North

• 1-410 South to 1-410 North

• Will add two non-tolled lanes on elevated bridges in each direction

• Will add safety and mobility improvements

• Currently in the design phase

The study is anticipated to be completed in 2025. After, the environmental review process and schematic design will be required to implement recommended improvement projects. Although the timeline for improvements is dependent on multiple factors, it is estimated to take approximately eight to 10 years.

To watch the virtual presentation, visit bit.ly/3uWtFTl. Community members can email [email protected], call 737-301-3349 or mail their response to Mobility35 C/O CD&P PO Box 5459, Austin, TX 78763 to give feedback through March 8.