Austin: US 183 south

[Chris]

The first stage of the US 183 south upgrade in Austin opens to traffic this week, between US 290 and Techni Center Drive (approximately 3 miles). It includes two new interchanges. It opened northbound on July 30 and southbound today (July 31).

Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/ctrma/183southinterimopening



1. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard interchange.


2. Loyola Lane interchange

Photos by the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority.

[thisdj78]

Nice. Wasn't expecting any phases to open this quick. Hard to tell, does that mean the first stop light when going south is at Tech Center?

[Echostatic]

Hard to tell, does that mean the first stop light when going south is at Tech Center?

Yep. Currently, the first SB traffic light is at Techni Center (and the last NB traffic light.)

[MaxConcrete]

I visited the construction zone a few weeks ago. The section south of the Colorado River still has a long way to go before opening.

What I found really strange is seeing that the existing overpass at Bolm road (just north of the Colorado River) was gone  (demolished). That overpass was relatively new, less than 10 years.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Austin,+TX/@30.2538819,-97.6804717,674m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x8644b599a0cc032f:0x5d9b464bd469d57a!8m2!3d30.267153!4d-97.7430608

This street view shows it demolished
https://www.google.com/maps/@30.252855,-97.6791345,3a,60y,328.16h,92.37t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sUcJEq-Eogg-arRUwz-oAGA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

[thisdj78]

I visited the construction zone a few weeks ago. The section south of the Colorado River still has a long way to go before opening.

What I found really strange is seeing that the existing overpass at Bolm road (just north of the Colorado River) was gone  (demolished). That overpass was relatively new, less than 10 years.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Austin,+TX/@30.2538819,-97.6804717,674m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x8644b599a0cc032f:0x5d9b464bd469d57a!8m2!3d30.267153!4d-97.7430608

This street view shows it demolished
https://www.google.com/maps/@30.252855,-97.6791345,3a,60y,328.16h,92.37t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sUcJEq-Eogg-arRUwz-oAGA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

I wondered the same thing. I figured they would/could use the existing bridge. I also remember bridge pillars in the Colorado river that looked like they were built awhile ago but never finished, are they utilizing those or replace them as well?

[Echostatic]

I also remember bridge pillars in the Colorado river that looked like they were built awhile ago but never finished, are they utilizing those or replace them as well?

The bridge pillars over the Colorado were built in the 80s and are being used on this project.

[longhorn]

I also remember bridge pillars in the Colorado river that looked like they were built awhile ago but never finished, are they utilizing those or replace them as well?

For all of these years those pillars were a strange sight, good to finally see them used.
The bridge pillars over the Colorado were built in the 80s and are being used on this project.

[Echostatic]

The 80s bridge pillars can be seen pretty well in google maps here: https://www.google.com/maps/@30.2451384,-97.6901881,3a,82y,312.44h,87.98t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sGYiTMIryQUlnOCo0eO62UA!2e0!5s20170701T000000!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

You can also see them being used in the new Colorado Bridge here: https://www.google.com/maps/@30.245145,-97.6901949,3a,75y,312.44h,87.98t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sJEvBgVkD8wURngRaFwlNPg!2e0!5s20190301T000000!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en

[longhorn]

That must have been an interesting engineering report on using 30 year old concrete pillars. The one advantage is they the 30 year old pillars should be stronger, having been curing for 30 years with no weight on them.

[Chris]

Historical imagery in Google Earth shows that the bridge at Bolm Road was built in 2002-2003. Is there any reason why they couldn't use it? It was already designed for something much larger than a four lane overpass.

[thisdj78]

Historical imagery in Google Earth shows that the bridge at Bolm Road was built in 2002-2003. Is there any reason why they couldn't use it? It was already designed for something much larger than a four lane overpass.

My only guess is that maybe they are building a different on/off ramp configuration than what the bridge was originally designed for. Looks like there were stubs for future ramp buildout.

[Echostatic]

Historical imagery in Google Earth shows that the bridge at Bolm Road was built in 2002-2003. Is there any reason why they couldn't use it? It was already designed for something much larger than a four lane overpass.

Well to start there isn't going to be an intersection with Bolm Road anymore - it'll stop at the southbound frontage road (AKA US183 SB.) A pedestrian bridge will be built over US & TX 183 at Bolm to replace some of the load. Also, the exits are being built in a different layout than what the 2002 Bolm Road Overpass was built for. You can see all this in the schematics:

[sprjus4]

Historical imagery in Google Earth shows that the bridge at Bolm Road was built in 2002-2003. Is there any reason why they couldn't use it? It was already designed for something much larger than a four lane overpass.

Well to start there isn't going to be an intersection with Bolm Road anymore - it'll stop at the southbound frontage road (AKA US183 SB.) A pedestrian bridge will be built over US & TX 183 at Bolm to replace some of the load. Also, the exits are being built in a different layout than what the 2002 Bolm Road Overpass was built for. You can see all this in the schematics:

IMO, just seems like a waste of existing infrastructure. Unless the bridge was in that bad of shape, which I would bet it wasn't.

[NE2]

That is the same ramp configuration the bridge was designed for...

[Echostatic]

That is the same ramp configuration the bridge was designed for...

No, the exit ramp for the next exit is further down on TX183. However the overall layout is the same.

They probably could have reused the bridge, but it would have been strange for Bolm to end at the frontage road with an open bridge in front.

[djlynch]

I mentioned the age of the Bolm overpass on /r/austin when it first closed and someone said that it had been decided in the design process for the toll lanes that the original plan had too many conflict points.

I would also bet that it's somehow tied into the promise TxDOT and CTRMA made to the local delegation when the first wave of toll roads was on the drawing board that no toll road would completely replace a free facility, including overpasses/underpasses at cross streets. Easier to keep that promise by eliminating a relatively low-traffic cross street than to try to work a combination of toll lanes and free lanes into an overpass that was designed to be part of an un-tolled freeway.

[texaskdog]

I saw it for the first time last night, it looked good.  Wish they would have put a new bridge directly across the river instead of that silly jog.

[texaskdog]

Funny story from a fellow Lyft driver:  He picked up 4 Australians and they saw the section of 183 and said "they're building the wall HERE?"

[MaxConcrete]

A section on the north end is now open, but there is still a lot of work to be completed on the south end. I'm thinking end 2020 is the earliest full completion.

Photos start from the south and proceed north.

The real item of interest is the unusual median fence being used (see last two photos). I've never seen this style of fencing used in Texas (or anywhere), but I'm thinking this is not the first use of this style of fence, it's just the first time I've seen it. It's not clear to me if this is mainly a headlight screen fence, or if it is to prevent pedestrian crossing. And the random vertical element length could be to make crossing more difficult, or it could be for aesthetics.


Northbound north of SH 71




The northbound traffic is shifted onto the southbound pavement here. It looks like the two mature oaks are going to be preserved in the median.


The toll road authority does not use the standard TxDOT metal truss for overhead signs, they use concrete beams.


This photo shows the unusual median fence. This location on the curve could be a headlight screen, but this fence style is also used on straight sections.


Another view of the median fence. The randomness of the vertical elements is clearly visible where there are some dark trees in the background.

[texaskdog]

The fence is undoubtedly due to all the morons getting killed running across I-35

[rte66man]

The fence is undoubtedly due to all the morons getting killed running across I-35

+1

The way the fence has the uneven tops makes me agree. Plus, the thinness of the 'planks' makes it ineffective in diverting headlights from oncoming traffic.

[texaskdog]

The fence is undoubtedly due to all the morons getting killed running across I-35

+1

The way the fence has the uneven tops makes me agree. Plus, the thinness of the 'planks' makes it ineffective in diverting headlights from oncoming traffic.

In Austin when one gets killed (often half a block from an overpass) they close the freeway for hours to investigate.  They make no attempt to get anyone off the freeway.  If you're stuck you're stuck.  It happens about once a month.