The United States Highway 290 (US 290) intersections in the Oak Hill area have seen tremendous traffic growth leading to heavy congestion. TxDOT, in cooperation with the City of Austin and Travis County, is performing improvements at five intersections along US 290 in western Travis County.

These improvement projects will, in the short-term, reduce congestion, improve mobility and enhance safety at area intersections by providing more streamlined intersections, a center turn lane, and dedicated left-turn lanes.

Planned Improvements

There are two intersection improvement projects in the area.

The first project includes:

• Adding dual left-turn lanes in three locations on US 290, including: RM 1826, Austin Community College campus, Convict Hill Road
• Constructing center turn lane on US 290 between RM 1826 and Convict Hill Road

Construction will begin in May 2013 and the estimated completion is approximately 14 months. The estimated construction cost is $4.6 million.

The second project includes:

• Designing and configuring innovative intersections on US 290 at William Cannon and SH 71 to allow for continuous flow of traffic
• Making operational enhancements at Joe Tanner Lane

The project is anticipated to begin in summer 2013 with construction lasting about 19 months. The estimated construction cost is $6.5 million.

Both projects will include pedestrian-accessible crossings and bicycle through-lanes at intersections.

Relation to Oak Hill Parkway

The Oak Hill Parkway Environmental Study was launched in October 2012 to determine the best options for addressing traffic congestion and increasing long-term mobility at the intersection of US 290 and SH 71.

The US 290 intersection improvements will provide an interim solution to congestion while the environmental study is underway and until a long-term solution can be implemented. The Oak Hill Parkway Environmental Study is a combined effort of TxDOT, the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority, Capital Metro, the City of Austin and Travis County and is expected to take three to five years to complete.

More information is available on the Oak Hill Parkway website.