AUSTIN, TX Changes are on the way for area roadways that will make them safer and smoother for drivers. The Texas Transportation Commission recently approved bids for nine projects and contracts worth almost $16 million.

With the focus on safety as our priority, the latest contracts include projects that will convert three highways into Super 2 roadways. A Super 2 configuration reduces the highway to one lane in each direction with alternating passing lanes, dedicated turn lanes, and shoulders. This is designed to reduce run-off-the-road crashes and rear-end collisions.

One Super 2 conversion will take place on US 87 starting at the Kendall County line to about four miles south of SH 16 in Gillespie County. The $493,000 contract was awarded to Clark Construction of Texas, Inc. The company will also handle the Super 2 conversion on US 183 in Burnet County between the Lampasas County and Williamson County lines for $1.38 million.

A third Super 2 conversion will take place on RM 1431 in Burnet County between SH 261 and FM 1980. The work will be performed by Lone Star Paving Company at a cost of $790,000. Work on all the projects is expected to start this summer and take about three months to complete.

Lone Star Paving Company also won three additional contracts for road repairs and resurfacing. The contractor will do repairs and repaving on US 183 in Burnet County to prepare the highway for the Super 2 conversion. The contract is worth $2.4 million, and work begins this summer.

Lone Star will do similar work on FM 734/Parmer Lane in Austin between Loop 1 and I-35 ($1.5 million) and on FM 2571 in Bastrop County between SH 304 and SH 95 ($1.6 million). Repairs should begin in the next few months.

SH 71 in Bastrop County will also get repairs and a new smoother driving surface between Loop 150 and the Fayette County line. Hunter Industries won the $5.99 million contract that will feature the new durable thin overlay mixture TxDOT is using on many highways. Work will begin in the coming months.

Opportunity Excavation/Concrete LLC will install pedestrian railing on Loop 275/North Lamar Boulevard over Little Walnut Creek and upgrade guardrail at Walnut Creek and Little Walnut Creek. Work on the $213,000 contract will begin later this year.

Austin Traffic Signal Construction will be working on several traffic signals in Travis County. The contract is worth $1.4 million.