AUSTIN, Texas — With Austin’s population continuing to grow, roads like Loop 360 in West Austin are getting more congested. But the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is in the middle of working on a major project to change how the road operates.
TxDOT is planning to remove all traffic signals on the 14-mile stretch of road between US 183 north to SH 71/US 290 south.
“This will create a better moving system, free flowing traffic and eliminating all of those signals where people stop and wait, creating more congestions,” said TxDOT spokesperson Antonio Lujan.
Loop 360 was recently named on TxDOT’s list of the 100 most congested roads in the state. With the population in the Austin metro area at roughly 2 million, with expectations that it could double or add even more than that by 2040, TxDOT officials said they’re constantly preparing to address more traffic.
“We need to start tackling this congestion now or else we’re going to be in a situation where you’re going to be at back t back traffic and not even being able to move,” Lujan said.
At each of the traffic light intersections along 360, TxDOT will be adding a mixture of bridges and underpasses for local traffic to cross either above or below the main road.
TxDOT started construction on the project with the Westlake Drive intersection about two years ago. It’s currently about halfway done, with two more years of construction expected. The nearly $72 million price tag for the updated intersection was funded through the mobility program in coordination with the City of Austin.
TxDOT has already constructed new southbound connector roads and temporary northbound main lanes, and is now excavating for future Loop 360 main lanes.
Four other intersections along 360 will also be turned into bridges and underpasses. The next three at Courtyard Drive, Spicewood Springs Road and Lakewood Drive have already received funding through the United Transportation Program. Construction on these three intersections is expected to cost around $200 million.
Construction on the Courtyard Drive intersection is the next up, starting in the new year.
In the future, there will be some changes to traffic for drivers, but TxDOT says with Christmas just days away, they won’t be making any major changes to the traffic flow.
“We want people to focus on traveling, not having a lot of disruptions as we get more people on the roadways, visiting family members and loved ones,” Lujan said.
Early in 2025, construction on the Westlake Drive bridge will begin. TxDOT will also open temporary southbound main lanes early next year.
Boomtown is KVUE’s series covering the explosive growth in Central Texas. For more Boomtown stories, head to KVUE.com/Boomtown.