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Road paving, lane widening: 3 ongoing Northwest Austin transportation projects

Check out the latest Northwest Austin transportation updates, including ongoing projects along major highways and roadways.

183 North Mobility Project
Project: The project features two express lanes in each direction on US 183, a general-purpose lane and new shared-use path connections and cross-street connections.
Update: Crews are working to complete concrete surface grinding and paving along the mainlanes, with lane closures beginning at 8 p.m. Work is expected to last throughout the summer.

  • Timeline: 2022-26
  • Cost: $612 million
  • Funding source: federal funding, sale of toll revenue bonds

Spicewood Springs Road Regional Mobility Project
Project: The project includes widening the two-lane road into a four-lane road with left-turn bays, creating two water detention ponds and pedestrian and bicycle shared-use paths, and improving the storm drain system, water transmission and wastewater lines.
Update: Crews adjusted travel routes south of Adirondack Trail in March with signage and temporary lane markings to shift traffic to the western side of the right of way.
  • Timeline: 2023-26
  • Cost: $31 million
  • Funding source: city of Austin 2016 Mobility Bond
 
Latest City News
Officials note Austin's 911 response rebound, warn emergency communications problems persist

Austin's handling of 911 calls has rebounded from a recent "crisis" of low staffing and high response times, but some elected officials say city leadership still hasn't taken strides to fix longstanding emergency communications problems.

The details: The city's emergency communications center was dozens of staffers short just a few years ago, passing a 45% vacancy rate in 2022. Austin police also fell below a national standard of answering 90% of 911 calls within 15 seconds, with some waits averaging more than two minutes.

New reporting from Austin's public safety departments shows progress after heightened hiring and employee retention efforts, including lowered response times. But some officials said related work to consolidate 911 operations is delayed, while other communications problems have yet to be addressed.

City Council asked to evaluate creating a Joint Emergency Communications Department last summer, and requested a strategic plan for that project by December. City management said in May that the planning effort remains in progress and didn't have a firm timeline for next steps.

 

Your Weekend To-Do List

Check out these weekend events across the metro area.

Kyle Fair

Feel Good Fest

May 15-17
Kyle

May 16, 6-11 p.m.
Austin

More info

More info

 

Color the Sky Kite Day

Lost Pines Art Center Spring Gala

May 17, 1-4 p.m.
Georgetown

May 17, 2-5 p.m.
Bastrop

More info

More info

 
To submit your own event, click here.

CI Texas
Q&A: Catch up with the Republicans running for Texas railroad commissioner in the May 26 runoff

On May 26, Republican voters will choose their nominee for the Texas Railroad Commission in a runoff election between former Tarrant County GOP Chair Bo French and incumbent Jim Wright.

The overview: The Republican railroad commission race is one of several statewide contests that advanced to May runoffs after no candidate received more than 50% of the vote in the March 3 primary election.

Wright and French were the two highest-performing candidates in the five-way primary race, with Wright receiving 32.1% of the vote and French collecting 31.7%.

The winner of the May 26 overtime round will face state Rep. John Rosenthal, D-Houston, in the November midterm election. Third-party candidates may also appear on the November ballot.

Did you know? The railroad commission regulates Texas’ oil and gas industry, while the state's railroads are under the control of the Texas Department of Transportation and the federal government. The agency has three commissioners elected to staggered six-year terms.

At the polls: Texans can vote early from May 18-22, with runoff election day May 26.

 

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Editor

Taylor Stover
General Manager

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