City to build 290 and Mopac overpass

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Austin City Council unanimously approved $13 million for construction of two missing overpasses at the Mopac and U.S. 290 interchange.

City Council has agreed with the Texas Department of Transportation to fast track the construction of the missing overpasses. 

The overpasses will help relieve congestion that builds up due to multiple traffic lights at the current interchange. 

The overpasses will connect Northbound Mopac to Eastbound 290 and Westbound 290 to Southbound Mopac. 

Construction will begin in 2010 and could be open to traffic by September 2011, according to Carlos Lopez, a TxDOT engineer. 

TxDOT will fund 80% of the construction cost.  The City of Austin will pay for the other 20%. 

The City estimates that 400 hours of daily travel will be saved with the new overpass.  Additionally, air pollution emissions will be greatly reduced, an estimated 386 metric tons of CO2 per year.