Hope for easing traffic on local roads

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Central Texas road congestion may be ready to soon ease a bit as several projects roll along toward completion.

The final two flyovers constructed at Ben White Boulevard and Interstate Highway 35 may be finished before December.

"We hope it will relieve a lot of congestion," said Carlos Lopez, Austin engineering director for Texas Department of Transportation. "We think 40,000 cars a day will use those flyovers; that's 40,000 that don't have to be on those frontage roads. That will be a big help for that area, the merchants there and improved mobility."

The next project nearing completion are the flyovers at State Highway 290 and MoPac Boulevard. They're expected to be finished by the end of March, easing congestion along Hwy. 290 at both MoPac Boulevard and Brodie Lane.

"It's going to bring a lot more business," said Lynette Crep, manager at Larry's Big Subs. "That's a good thing."

"Oh this will make life easier. It's difficult to get places, this is going to be a real improvement," said driver Emily McAlleer, who is in the area frequently.

Another project, a 30-month, $35-million effort will make the road east towards the airport  smoother. TxDOT will build a Riverside Drive flyover, above a newly expanded and extended Ben White Boulevard.

"Ben White will actually go under Riverside [Drive], so 72,000 cars a day will not have to go through that signal," Lopez pointed out.

TxDOT officials said it has been offering incentives to contractors to get their work done more quickly, and they're seeing results.