AUSTIN, TX The Texas Department of Transportation is moving ahead with a series of projects to repair highways and help pedestrians after the Texas Transportation Commission recently awarded contracts for work in the Austin District.

New sidewalks are planned for FM 3177 (Decker Lane) between Loyola Lane and Daffan Lane. The $2 million project includes the area around the Travis County Expo Center and will take about a year to complete. M.A. Smith Contracting Co. will start the project in late spring/early summer.

Drivers on FM 969 between Decker Lane and Tannehill Lane will soon see a new driving surface. Angel Brothers Holdings Corp. is taking on a $2 million contract to repair and repave this stretch of highway. The work will take about two months to complete and is expected to start soon.

On U.S. 183 in southern Travis County, Dan Williams Company will be extending a left-turn lane for northbound drivers turning onto Annalise Drive at the Addison subdivision. The $432,000 project will include widening the northbound bridge over Cotton Mouth Creek to carry the extended turn lane. Work should begin in the next few months.

Several other bridges will also receive improved bridge railing and guardrail along the road. Three locations are along SH 71 in Bastrop County, and one is on FM 1697 in Lee County. Acme Bridge Company won the $579,000 contract that will take about four months to complete.

Some flood damage remains in Williamson County from flooding last year. A $384,000 contract with Salinas Construction Technologies will help finish repairs on FM 1660, U.S. 290 and SH 95. The five-month project will clean and replace drainage structures, and repair and replace riprap erosion controls along the highways.

Two other contracts will improve the road surface in three counties. In Caldwell County, SH 21 will get repairs and a new driving surface along eight miles between Hays and Bastrop county lines. Dean Word Company will take about two months to complete the $2.4 million job.

In Lee County, U.S. 77 will see some roadway repairs north and south of SH 21. The project will take about a month at a cost of $876,000. Knife River Corporation is the prime contractor.