Transportation Officials To Stage Public Hearing On North Austin I-35 Improvements

NORTH AUSTIN, TX -- Texas Department of Transportation officials have scheduled a public hearing to discuss the proposed mobility improvements to I-35 at Riverside Drive, from south of Holly Street to north of Oltorf Drive on Thursday.

The public hearing is scheduled Sept. 29 at W.B. Travis High School, located at 1211 E. Oltorf Street, transportation officials said. A 6 p.m. open house will precede the hearing, followed bya formal presentation thirty minutes later prior to a public comment session, officials said.

"The purpose of the public hearing is to provide an update on the proposed project, receive public input on the proposed improvements—particularly the impacts to the Norwood Tract—and to satisfy Chapter 26 of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Code, which requires a public hearing if land from a publicly owned park is proposed to be purchased by the state," officials said in an email to Patch.

The roughly $159 million project is intended to improve safety and mobility for all users of I-35 while minimizing right-of-way, community and environmental impacts, transportation officials said.

"The project proposes to reconstruct the mainlanes and frontage roads from south of Holly Street to north of Oltorf Street, add an intersection bypass lane under Riverside Drive, and improve the intersections at Riverside Drive and Woodland Avenue," officials explained. "Throughout the project limits, a shared use path would extend along I-35."

Those unable to attend the meeting in-person can offer input online at a virtual open house that will be available Sept. 29 - Oct. 13, 2016 at www.mobility35openhouse.com.

>>> Image via Shutterstock