Read about three transportation project updates for the Southwest Austin area that may affect commutes.

Oak Hill Parkway: The 7-mile stretch of highway has been undergoing a $677 million facelift since 2021. Additional lanes on the eastbound and westbound Hwy. 290 mainlanes opened. More entrance and exit ramps will open later this summer. The Scenic Brook Drive crossing at SH 71 recently opened.

I-35 Capital Express South Project: TxDOT will add two high-occupancy vehicle lanes, a southbound bypass lane, pedestrian and bicycle paths. The Texas Department of Transportation began construction of elevated managed lanes in June, resulting in temporary closures throughout July.

William Cannon at Bluff Springs intersection repairs: The city is making improvements to the intersection in response to residents’ safety concerns. According to a news release from the city, the intersection will be replaced with concrete, rather than asphalt, which lasts longer. The project also includes Americans with Disabilities Act improvements. The city began improving the intersection July 1.

City crews conducted hundreds of site visits, cleared hundreds of thousands of pounds of debris and moved dozens of people into shelter over the first month of Austin's ramped-up homeless encampment management.

The details: Earlier in the spring, Austin Homeless Strategies and Operations announced an expanded model for addressing the scores of known encampments in public places around the city. The renewed response came years after local voters reinstated a public camping ban, and followed shorter-term targeted encampment clearings by both the city and state agencies last year.

From May 11 to June 5, AHSO-led teams conducted 456 total visits to 127 unique locations citywide, where more than 334 tons of debris were cleared. Half of the people contacted at encampments accepted offers of assistance—either shelter or other services—while half declined any help. As part of ongoing monitoring, AHSO found people are frequently reoccupying sites after they're cleared, with signs of return activity at 28% of those locations.

Nonprofit Emancipet is adding Saturday service to its free mobile veterinary clinic through September, offering free spay/neuter surgeries, rabies vaccines and microchips at rotating Austin locations for Travis County residents.

The nonprofit operates 10 onsite clinics nationwide, four in Travis County, and a mobile clinic that operates according to a posted online schedule. The mobile clinic also offers low-cost wellness services with the office visit fee waived on free days.

What it means: CEO Cheryl Katon said the extra day could allow roughly 2,000 more spay/neuter procedures over the three-month span.

Affordable veterinary care helps reduce shelter intake in two ways: it allows owners facing cost barriers to keep their pets, and it lowers the lifetime cost of pet ownership from an estimated $8,000 to $25,000 at market rate down to $2,000 to $3,000 through Emancipet, Katon said.

What’s next: Whether the third clinic day continues beyond September depends on the city's budget, Katon said, deferring further detail to city officials.

Austin-based restaurant Hopdoddy Burger Bar has been acquired by by Founders Table Restaurant Group.

What's happening: Hopdoddy CEO Jeff Chandler will transition to an advisory role. Hopdoddy Vice President of Operations Kenny Jett will assume the role of president.

"I've had the privilege of seeing firsthand what makes this brand so special—from our incredible team members to the loyal guests who support us every day," Jett said in a news release. "I'm honored to step into this role and excited to build on the strong foundation we've created as we continue growing the brand."

The background: Hopdoddy was founded in Austin in 2010 and has 47 locations today, including in Houston, Dallas and San Antonio.

Founders Table was founded in 2020. The brand's portfolio includes Chopt Creative Salad Company, Dos Toros Taqueria and Protein Bar & Kitchen.

A YMCA renovation, road reconstruction and a Crunch Fitness are among the five most expensive projects filed with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation in the Austin metro this week.

1. Johnny Morris Road ($32.7 million): This project involves roadway reconstruction with improvements to curbs, sidewalks, shared-use paths, signal modifications, and signage and pavement markings.

2. Texas Children's Hospital Austin ($17.9 million): This project includes a shell infill on the existing 5th floor of the hospital to house 12 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, or NICU, beds and 12 Universal Care Pediatric Beds.

3. YMCA Four Points ($17 million): This project involves the single-story renovation of the existing YMCA facility and a new outdoor space with a pool house.

4. Blue Hole Nature Center ($4 million): A new 2,375-square-foot nature center is being built in Wimberley.

5. Crunch Fitness ($1.5 million): A new Crunch Fitness location is coming to Hutto, with construction set to begin this fall.