AUSTIN, TX Construction is starting on a $79-million project to improve the mainlanes and frontage roads on I-35 from Stassney Lane to William Cannon Drive. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) joined Texas Transportation Commission Chair Tryon Lewis, State Senator Kirk Watson, city of Austin, Texas, Mayor Steve Adler and members of the community at the project's groundbreaking ceremony.

TxDOT is taking a smart approach to transportation planning in the I-35 corridor. Work to improve mobility, connectivity and safety on this project includes:

Reconstructing the bridge structures and building new U-turns at Stassney and William Cannon
Reconstructing the frontage road bridges over Williamson Creek
Widening the mainlanes to incorporate shoulders and extended entrance/exit lanes
Reconfiguring the ramps
Improving bicycle and pedestrian facilities
Adding new safety and high mast lighting in the project area

Construction Phases 

Work on this improvement project will take place in three phases. 

Phase I work includes: 

Paving the inside median area of the project limits  
Modifying and constructing entrance/exit ramps  
Constructing/widening the outside mainlanes and frontage roads  
Constructing U-turn bridges in both directions at William Cannon and Stassney 

Phase II work includes building a new bridge at Stassney 

Phase III work includes building a new bridge at William Cannon and performing final paving operations for the entire project The final roadway configuration includes: 

Three mainlanes in each direction with extended entrance/exit lanes for the entire length of the project  
Three frontage road lanes in each direction, where there are only two lanes in each direction in the existing configuration 

The 3.2-mile project's construction cost is $79 million. Construction was funded by Proposition 1 and is expected to take approximately four years to complete, beginning in July 2016 and ending in winter 2019/2020. The contractor for the project is OHL USA, Inc.