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July 17 2022
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Vol. VI • No. 15
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Austin’s Big Relief Colorado River Constructors Moves 2 Million Tons of Material On $674M Job By Chuck MacDonald CEG CORRESPONDENT
According to the U.S. Census estimates, Austin showed one of the largest population gains of any metro area in the United States. The city grew by more than 53,000 people in a single year, representing the fourth largest increase in the country. More people mean more jobs, more shopping and, of course, more traffic. A recent project, some 30 years in the making, aims to take a bite out of that traffic in one historically congested area. At a cost of $674 million, the joint venture of Fluor and Balfour Beatty Infrastructure — Colorado River Constructors — (overseen by the Texas Department of Transportation) plans to inject new life and beauty in a busy area. For years locals and commuters alike have tried to avoid the U.S. 290 intersection with SH 71 because of congestion. The project is scheduled for completion in 2026 and will eliminate almost all traffic lights, allowing for free-flowing traffic through a residential area. One highlight of the project, decided upon with heavy local input, is to put the 290 mainlanes in the “basement,” allowing connecting roads to be at grade. Flyovers will be less overpowering visually, contrasting with other busy Texas roadways where one highway is stacked on top of another in a concrete stairway to heaven. Here are some of the highlights of the project: • Upgraded roadway consisting of two-to-three non-stop U.S. 290 mainlanes for through traffic in each direction. Frontage road lanes also will be built in each direction; • U.S. 290 mainlanes overpass over William Cannon Drive along with new flyovers between U.S. 290 and SH 71; • U.S. 290 main lanes will be lowered under SH 71; • New intersections will be constructed along U.S. 290 at Convict Hill Road, RM 1826, Scenic Brook Drive and Circle Drive where the highway will go below the existing ground level with the cross street at ground level; see AUSTIN page 12
Colorado River Constructors photo
A milling machine uses drum cutting blades to grind rock and separate dirt near Convict Hill Road. Its use is among the first steps in the process to level ground for future construction of frontage roads and mainlanes heading east into the U.S. 290/SH 71 Y Interchange.
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