One of the major changes in American roads these days are the building of toll roads or addition of toll infrastructure to pre-existing freeways. No more evident is that then in the capital city of Texas and its metropolitan area. With so few freeways serving the area, a plan was needed to deal with the growing congestion on Interstate 35, the primary freeway linking Austin with points south and north, and the arterial system due to a glutton of housing development.

Formed were the Central Texas Turnpike System and Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority, two organizations in charge of planning, designing, and building toll freeways for the Austin area. Construction on the first of these toll roads began in 2005 and continue to present day. New roads and stretches of roads are opening at a rapid pace. Included are:

Texas Toll 1, an extension of the MoPac Expressway northward from central Austin

Texas Toll 45, an east-west freeway linking U.S. 183 with Texas Toll 130, serving both commuter and through traffic needs

Texas Toll 130, a long-distance eastern bypass and commuter route for Interstate 35 between Georgetown and Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Further extension of this highway southward to U.S. 183 near Creedmoor is underway. Ultimately Texas Toll 130 will provide a complete alternative to Interstate 35 southward to Interstate 10 near Seguin.

Texas Toll 183A, a bypass route of U.S. 183 through the northwest suburbs of Cedar Park and Leander.

Additional routes set to begin construction or in the planning stage include:

Texas 45 Southeast, an east-west route linking Texas Toll 130 with Interstate 35 north of Creedmoor.

Texas Toll 290, a tolled freewayization of U.S. 290 east of U.S. 183 to Manor

Texas Toll 183, a tolled freewayization of U.S. 183 from U.S. 290 south to Texas Loop 111

Texas Toll 71, a tolled freewayization of the state highway between Interstate 35 and U.S. 183.

Texas Toll 45 Southwest, a four-lane freeway between Texas Loop 1 (MoPac Expressway) and Texas Farm to Market Road 1626.

We had an opportunity to check out some of the completed Austin area toll roads last month and that coverage is now available on the Texas highway guides. See the updates list for new pages on Texas Toll 1, Texas Toll 45, Texas Toll 130, and Texas Toll 183A.