I see a Texas 45 stub in Google Earth north of Autstin. It looks like it's supposed to form a loop of some sort. Are there plans to complete this, or is this a not-in-my-backyard stub?
You must be referring to the stub just west of US 183.
There are no plans to extend the tollway westward at this time. The CAMPO 2040 plan includes adding two lanes to the arterial street (currently four lanes). There is NIMBY influence in that area which killed any plans for extending the tollway west to Anderson Mill when it was originally constructed about 10 years ago.
However, as you noticed, the end of SH 45 is designed to potentially be extended. Plans for improvements to US 183 include a direct connection ramp from northbound U.S. 183 to westbound SH 45 (i.e. connecting to the stub), and the ramp design leaves room for main lanes.
In my view, the westward/southwestward tollway extension (extending the stub) is not totally dead. I think it could be revived if the political climate becomes favorable. However, I don't think a revival of plans to extend the tollway is imminent, and for the near term, other projects will have priority, such as the US 290 West extension (if it can get a ROD).
At least there are plans to extend the southern portion of TX-45, with the existing TX-45 toll road eventually connecting to the other segment of TX-45 at the end of the MoPac & TX-1.
Here's one schematic of the section going from the MoPac to FM-1626.
http://www.sh45sw.com/45SW_schematics_July2015.pdf
The other segment meeting up with I-35 would get built later. Ultimately the Southern section of TX-45 could get extended West out to US-290.
As for TX-45 being built up as a full loop all the way around Austin, that's very doubtful. Maybe TX-DOT could co-sign TX-45 along TX-130 along the East side of Austin so the two sections of TX-45 could be joined together technically.
Quote from: Bobby5280 on December 29, 2015, 01:10:48 AM
As for TX-45 being built up as a full loop all the way around Austin, that's very doubtful. Maybe TX-DOT could co-sign TX-45 along TX-130 along the East side of Austin so the two sections of TX-45 could be joined together technically.
Um, they already do.
There have been some plans that have come out over the past year or two on different routes for a western tollway section. It would follow RR 620 or run E or SE of 620 & Lakeway/Lago Vista. As much as that area down to TX 71 & US 290 has exploded, it will be needed or that area will experience the typical Austin traffic due to the lack of suitable roads from the no-growth or NIMBY Austin hippies.
Quote from: ski-man on December 30, 2015, 11:35:20 PM
...it will be needed or that area will experience the typical Austin traffic due to the lack of suitable roads from the no-growth or NIMBY Austin hippies.
It already does.