Slaughter Creek Overpass Replacement Project Begins This Spring

SOUTH AUSTIN, TX -- Texas Department of Transportation officials this week touted a number of road projects enabled by Proposition 1 funding, including $9.2 million worth of improvements planned for South Austin.

Capital Excavation crews will soon begin work replacing the Slaughter Creek overpass, adding a southbound-to-northbound U-turn bridge and improving safety lighting to the area.

The project is scheduled to begin this spring with an expected completion by summer 2017. The new bridge will feature three lanes, sidewalks and shoulders.

Additionally, the project will include widening the southbound frontage road to two lanes through the Slaughter Creek intersection.

The South Austin project is one of several being undertaken to improve safety and mobility along Interstate 35 throughout Williamson, Travis and Hays counties.

The projects all were kick-started by Prop. 1, which dedicates a portion of oil and gas tax revenue to the state highway fund. The measure allowing the reallocation of funds for road work was approved by voters last November.

All told, the 200 planned Prop. 1 projects statewide will result in more than 800 miles of rehabilitated highways; nearly 500 miles of new highway lanes; replacement, widening or rehabilitation of 114 bridges; and 159 miles of passing lanes on rural highways, TxDot officials said.

In the Austin District alone, there are 14 Prop. 1 projects with a collective price tag of $120 million.