Stretch of SH 71 to undergo makeover

AUSTIN (KXAN) —Motorists heading east Austin might notice a few changes on State Highway 71 just past Austin Bergstrom International Airport starting Tuesday when the Texas Department of Transportation rolls out its newest intersection design.

The traditional intersection at SH 71 and FM 973 in East Austin is being replaced with a design highway engineers calll "a restricted crossing U-turn," also known as a "super street."

The designed reroutes the left-turn and through movements, requiring all motorists to turn right and make a U-turn at the next light.

Video from TxDOT

“Benefits of this design concept are tremendous,” said Greg Malatek, Austin district engineer. “The design will help reduce delay and congestion at this intersection by more than 40 percent, which makes the roadway safer for everyone.”

The first phase of construction includes temporarily prohibiting left-turns from SH 71 to FM 973 and to Fallwell Lane to allow crews to continue work in the center median. Once this work is completed, the intersection will operate in its full Super Street configuration.