Old highway alignment at I-35/Hester’s Crossing in Round Rock?

[thisdj78]

Just curious, I passed by this decaying section of asphalt and was wondering if it's an old alignment or an old temporary detour alignment for past construction?

https://goo.gl/maps/uiCZ6qNAxc2jpcMg6

https://goo.gl/maps/mNi3MUgJC1Ra9kDA8

[Echostatic]

Looking at historic aerial images shows that the stretch of concrete was built in the early 80s and was used as a parking lot for around 6 years. No clue why there would be a parking lot between the highway and the frontage road, but that's what it was.

[thisdj78]

Looking at historic aerial images shows that the stretch of concrete was built in the early 80s and was used as a parking lot for around 6 years. No clue why there would be a parking lot between the highway and the frontage road, but that's what it was.

Sounds like it could have been a Park & Ride for commuters

[longhorn]

https://www.google.com/maps/@30.4884609,-97.6774102,3a,24y,156.65h,80.73t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sKWQzqOmqAd1XXVNprRn-0Q!2e0!5s20090601T000000!7i13312!8i6656

https://www.google.com/maps/@30.4883835,-97.6775147,3a,24y,135.97h,82.54t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sJVG-dj3CxVmbzdmQbZWcTw!2e0!5s20090601T000000!7i13312!8i6656

Its Austin, who knows.

[djlynch]

The idea of providing parking lots for car pools to meet sounds very Austin in the 80s to me. I think I remember a couple other random "park and ride" lots with no transit service.

[Chris]

This 1995 image in Google Earth indeed suggests it was a carpool parking lot.



Are these uncommon in the U.S.? They are pretty common in a number of European countries, you'd think these would also be common in the U.S. due to the implementation HOV lanes (which hardly exist in Europe). Though Austin doesn't seem to have HOV lanes, right?

[thisdj78]

This 1995 image in Google Earth indeed suggests it was a carpool parking lot.



Are these uncommon in the U.S.? They are pretty common in a number of European countries, you'd think these would also be common in the U.S. due to the implementation HOV lanes (which hardly exist in Europe). Though Austin doesn't seem to have HOV lanes, right?

Yes they are pretty common in cities here. But no, Austin doesn't have on HOV on this particular highway.

[Echostatic]

But no, Austin doesn't have on HOV on this particular highway.

Austin doesn't have HOV lanes on any highways. We've got tolled express lanes on plenty of highways, and many more under construction, but no HOV lanes.