Austin, TX

[ethanhopkin14]

The "Bergstrom Express"  just opened several months ago and acts as a downtown bypass. And with the new flyovers at 183/35....it's free flowing all the way now:

https://www.183south.com/upload/files/183_Toll_Fact_Sheet_2021.pdf

That's cool - I knew they were doing work over there but didn't know the extents of it.  To be a true bypass, it looks like it could use a connector headed southwest towards the I-35 and Ben White area, though.

There is now. They completely re-did the 183/71 interchange by the airport....takes you straight to 35 via 71:

Dropped pin
https://goo.gl/maps/fLTWcYQt9fpiYfFm7

Not completely.  Two cloverleaf "leaves" still remain.  Why they kept them is beyond me. 

[sprjus4]

^ The point is, the SH-71 East to US-183 North movement and vice versa is on the flyovers.

The loop ramps exist to provide access to the frontage roads.

[ethanhopkin14]

^ The point is, the SH-71 East to US-183 North movement and vice versa is on the flyovers.

The loop ramps exist to provide access to the frontage roads.

My only point is Texas is extremely anti-cloverleaf, so it's amazing to me they kept them.

I know what they are for. 

[sprjus4]

My only point is Texas is extremely anti-cloverleaf, so it's amazing to me they kept them.

True. Though, I've seen them at a few local interchanges in Dallas-Fort Worth before. And they are adding them in Corpus Christi coming from Downtown on I-37 onto SH-286 South, and from US-181 South to I-37 South into Downtown, via the frontage roads - as apart of the Harbor Bridge project. A local, minor movement, but still interesting.

[kphoger]

Cloverleaf interchanges I've used in Texas:
I-35E @ US-287
I-10 @ I-410
I-410 @ I-35

[thisdj78]

^ The US-183 improvements were necessary, however re-routing I-35 onto that alignment would seriously cause more issues than help.

True, I only pointed out the 183 south toll to show there is now a new limited access bypass east of downtown which serves the purpose that I-35 (the poster) was proposing.

[ethanhopkin14]

Cloverleaf interchanges I've used in Texas:
I-35E @ US-287
I-10 @ I-410
I-410 @ I-35

I know Texas has cloverleafs.  I have used several.  What I mean is, usually when a cloverleaf gets worked on it Texas, the cloverleaf gets completely taken out.  This one is a rarity that it got re done but some of the cloverleaf stayed.

I think the I-35E and US-287 on is not long for this world.   I know for a fact the I-410/I-10 one has the deuces up. 

[sprjus4]

^ Both I-410/I-10 and Loop 1604/I-10 are getting replaced by 5 level stacks.

On the other hand, in Corpus Christi, the SH-358/SH-286 interchange that was constructed in the early 2000s features 2 loop ramps for low volume movements. It's a partial stack as opposed to the traditional full stack.

[ethanhopkin14]

^ Both I-410/I-10 and Loop 1604/I-10 are getting replaced by 5 level stacks.

On the other hand, in Corpus Christi, the SH-358/SH-286 interchange that was constructed in the early 2000s features 2 loop ramps for low volume movements. It's a partial stack as opposed to the traditional full stack.

I forgot about the east Loop 375/I-10 interchange in EL Paso.  They built the stack and left the cloverleaf. 

[ethanhopkin14]

Again, you are ignoring my earlier points about the existing US-290 corridor going West of Austin being a pretty crappy route and the fact lots of people will drive out of the way to avoid taking such routes over a long distance. The population of the Killeen metro is a tiny fraction of the Austin metro's size. Any city with a 1 million residents just within its city limits alone (not to mention the rapidly growing suburbs) rates having at least one East-West Interstate going through the region.

Another point to the US-290 corridor west of Austin that I had brought up years ago but forgot, is this:

Part of the reason US-290 sees less truck traffic is because truckers from points west heading to Austin would rather stay on I-10 to San Antonio, take Loop 1604 or I-410 to I-35 and take that into Austin, gambling on reaching the highways during off-peak times.  Austin-El Paso and Austin-Houston have always been connecedt by interstate, yes, but indirectly.  I am willing to bet money this is often the case.  Now, if it takes only 3 to 4 trucks off I-35 going to Austin an hour by building an interstate on the US-290 corridor, every little bit helps when it comes to the enormous problems on I-35. 

[Echostatic]

https://www.kxan.com/traffic/txdot-evaluating-damages-to-sh-45-u-s-183-frontage-bridge/

[AcE_Wolf_287]

Which Highways that go through Austin (US Routes & State Highways) Could use some widening? instead of something new

[Bobby5280]

Which Highways that go through Austin (US Routes & State Highways) Could use some widening? instead of something new

With the way the Austin metro has been growing several routes need upgrades.

East of Austin both US-290 and TX-71 really should be expanded into fully Interstate quality routes. I don't care if they get plastered with Interstate shields or not. But they do need to be 100% limited access as well as add more lanes in some places.

US-290 going West of Austin needs Interstate quality upgrades farther West than what is currently planned. The Oak Hill Y project will be a good start. But that project will end just West of the Circle Drive Y. Traffic jams are taking on place on US-290 clear out past Dripping Springs.

The Southwest segment of the TX-45 loop needs to be extended in both directions, East to I-35 and West to US-290 where it should tie into a new freeway functioning as a Western entrance/exit to the Austin metro.

The US-183 freeway needs to be extended farther North out of the Austin metro. I don't think it's necessary to make a US-183 freeway all the way to Lampasas. But it could go as far North as Briggs in the near term.

TX-195, from the I-35 split near Georgetown going up to Killeen, needs more limited access improvements and eventually an upgrade to 100% limited access. In the Killeen area it will be tricky tying that freeway into I-14.

[CoreySamson]

Apologies if I've missed a whole discussion on this, but why does TX-45 have a glaring gap in it between I-35 and FM 1626? Is it planned to be filled, or has filling it been canceled by the local anti-freeway people? It seems like filling the gap would provide traffic with a western relief route for I-35 and would have massive benefits for the city.

[Echostatic]

Just hasn't been built yet. SH45 between Mopac and FM 1626 was only completed around two years ago. The missing segment has been on city long-term planning documents for years but there's no actual proposals to connect it yet. It will happen, eventually.

[thisdj78]

Apologies if I've missed a whole discussion on this, but why does TX-45 have a glaring gap in it between I-35 and FM 1626? Is it planned to be filled, or has filling it been canceled by the local anti-freeway people? It seems like filling the gap would provide traffic with a western relief route for I-35 and would have massive benefits for the city.

SH45 SW extension to 35 construction is supposed to start around 2025.

[thisdj78]

https://www.theverge.com/22715458/tesla-move-headquarters-to-austin-texas

Traffic is about to get another boost....think Elon could buy out the 130 toll and make it free? 😂

[Thegeet]

https://www.theverge.com/22715458/tesla-move-headquarters-to-austin-texas

Traffic is about to get another boost....think Elon could buy out the 130 toll and make it free? 😂

Wasn't there a bill proposed in 2013 to make it free?

[thisdj78]

https://www.theverge.com/22715458/tesla-move-headquarters-to-austin-texas

Traffic is about to get another boost....think Elon could buy out the 130 toll and make it free? 😂

Wasn't there a bill proposed in 2013 to make it free?

Yep, it was dead on arrival...no one wanted to pony up the money....it would have taken (back then) $3 billion to buy it out. They wanted to call it I-35E:

https://www.statesman.com/article/20130321/NEWS/303219666

[Scott5114]

https://www.theverge.com/22715458/tesla-move-headquarters-to-austin-texas

Traffic is about to get another boost....think Elon could buy out the 130 toll and make it free? 😂

Wasn't there a bill proposed in 2013 to make it free?

Yep, it was dead on arrival...no one wanted to pony up the money....it would have taken (back then) $3 billion to buy it out. They wanted to call it I-35E:

https://www.statesman.com/article/20130321/NEWS/303219666

Of course they did.

But there's already an I-35E. Maybe it should be I-35EA (for East of Austin) or I-35P (for Pickle).

[thisdj78]

https://www.theverge.com/22715458/tesla-move-headquarters-to-austin-texas

Traffic is about to get another boost....think Elon could buy out the 130 toll and make it free? 😂

Wasn't there a bill proposed in 2013 to make it free?

Yep, it was dead on arrival...no one wanted to pony up the money....it would have taken (back then) $3 billion to buy it out. They wanted to call it I-35E:

https://www.statesman.com/article/20130321/NEWS/303219666

Of course they did.

But there's already an I-35E. Maybe it should be I-35EA (for East of Austin) or I-35P (for Pickle).

Or maybe I-35T for Tesla Parkway.

But I think if it ever does become a free interstate, I wouldn't be surprised if it's 35E. Granted the other one is in MN but there's already two.

[Thegeet]

https://www.theverge.com/22715458/tesla-move-headquarters-to-austin-texas

Traffic is about to get another boost....think Elon could buy out the 130 toll and make it free? 😂

Wasn't there a bill proposed in 2013 to make it free?

Yep, it was dead on arrival...no one wanted to pony up the money....it would have taken (back then) $3 billion to buy it out. They wanted to call it I-35E:

https://www.statesman.com/article/20130321/NEWS/303219666

Of course they did.

But there's already an I-35E. Maybe it should be I-35EA (for East of Austin) or I-35P (for Pickle).

Or maybe I-35T for Tesla Parkway.

But I think if it ever does become a free interstate, I wouldn't be surprised if it's 35E. Granted the other one is in MN but there's already two.

Considering other highways, it would likely be I-33.

[sprjus4]

What other highways?

My realistic assumption would be I-x35 or simply staying SH-130 but free.

[Thegeet]

What other highways?

My realistic assumption would be I-x35 or simply staying SH-130 but free.

I meant to say interstates. Like I-10 and I-12.

[Bobby5280]

A short length route like the TX-130 tollway does not warrant burning a 2-digit Interstate designation. A 3-digit I-x35 designation would be just fine.

Besides, if there was going to be a "I-33" route designated, the US-281 corridor going North out of San Antonio would be a better candidate. In big picture terms the US-281 corridor could emerge as a relief North-South corridor for I-35, basically a Western bypass of Austin and DFW. The route could go up to Wichita Falls and even overlap the portion of I-44 Southwest of OKC before re-connecting back to I-35 in OKC. That would be a better "I-33" and it would be an actual Interstate, going across state lines. BTW I think US-277 should be gradually upgraded between Wichita Falls and Abilene. That could turn into an eventual extension of I-44 to I-20 (or even to San Angelo to meet up with a possible extension of I-27).