Motorists In South Austin Experience Enhanced Mobility Due To Road Improvements

SOUTH AUSTIN, TX — On Friday, motorists traveling at the south end of Loop 360 and Loop 1 in the rapidly growing area of southwest Austin experienced greater mobility and safety. And they have the Texas Department of Transportation to thank.

TxDot's improvement project to add auxiliary lanes, or extended entrance/exit lanes, on Loop 360 to improve intersections with Walsh Tarlton Lane, the Barton Creek Square Mall entrance, Loop 1, and the intersection just south of Loop 1 is now open to traffic. In addition, crews also constructed another left-turn lane on the northbound Loop 1 frontage road at Loop 360 to create a triple left-turn condition from northbound Loop 1 to northbound 360.

Traffic leaving Barton Creek Plaza will also be modified, TxDot officials said. With the improvements along Loop 360, drivers will no longer be able to turn left out of the Barton Creek Plaza signal, instead all drivers will make a right. Those wishing to go south on Loop 360 toward US 290 from Barton Creek Plaza will have a new signal with a protected U-turn near the new bicycle/pedestrian bridge over Loop 360.

Moreover, there will be no change for drivers turning onto Barton Creek Plaza from Loop 360. This modification allows southbound Loop 360 traffic to flow smoother, as they no longer have to stop at the Barton Creek Plaza signal.

Based off preliminary traffic data analysis, travel times along Loop 360 between US 290 and Walsh Tarlton are expected to decrease during peak travel time in the morning by as much as 36 percent, transportation officials said. In the evening, the travel times are expected to decrease during peak travel times by as much as 66 percent, officials added.

“This project results in significant travel time savings, allowing drivers to travel more efficiently through this congested area of Austin,” said Victor Vargas, TxDOT area engineer. “I am happy this improvement project is open for motorists to enjoy, especially before the busy holiday season.”

While the improved roadway is now open to drivers, final paving for the project won’t occur until the weather warms in the spring, officials said. The contractor for the $6.44 million project that began in February 2016 was Dan Williams Company.

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