la Frontera In the News
Round Rock Leader
May 22, 2004
SH 45 construction moving at fast pace
by Jennifer Marciniak, Leader Staff
On any given day the skyline seems to have changed just a bit from the day before at the intersection of Louis Henna Boulevard and Interstate 35.
As toll road Texas 45 maintains a steady construction pace, drivers can expect to see changes in frontage road closures and access in the coming months, including full closures of parts of the interstate during summer.
If construction appears to be moving fast, that's because it is, said John Hurt, spokesman for Texas Department of Transportation. Since it is a toll road paid for with bond monies, there is no waiting in line with your hand out to the Texas Transportation Commission.
"This project is a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week project, and that's why it appears to be moving so fast," said Hurt. "You can say that is ahead (of schedule.)"
The $3.6 billion project stretches from U.S. 183 at RM 620 in Austin to the yet-to-be-builts state Highway 130 on the cusp of Hutto. In addition to Texas 45, the project's cost includes 49 miles of state Highway 130 and a bit of Loop 1. Divided into nine sections, the Texas 45 part of the project is due to be completed in December 2007, but at the rate of current construction, there is a possibility it could ready for travel months before.
"It's hard to say; but until the whole thing — like cake that is baked — it won't be ready until it's done," said Hurt.
The 13.8 miles of Texas 45 contains three major interchanges, and is divided into nine sections, with the La Frontera interchange spiraling 10 stories above the ground, encompassing a total of five levels, including I-35.
The section at County Road 170 and High Country Road is expected to be finished in September 2006, followed by Parmer Lane west of Texas 45 at North Loop 1 and CR 172 in September 2006. Loop 1 at Parmer is scheduled to be finished in January 2007, along with Texas 45 at La Frontera and I-35. The intersection of Texas 45 U.S. 183 at the Austin-Cedar Park border is on the books to be finished July 2007, with North U.S. 183 to the North Loop 1 interchange behind La Frontera bringing up the end in December 2007.
The columns at McNeil Road are scheduled to be finished this month, Hurt said.
With standard financing through TxDOT, Hurt said, the Texas 45 project probably would have taken seven years to complete. But with the empty pockets at the state level, he said, there is no guarantee it would have ever gotten finished, started if that.
"The 'baby birds'— all 25 districts in Texas — all want a piece of the worm," he said, referring to the limited transportation dollars. "But tolling is different. It is paid for before the work begins. Tolls are becoming more and more traditional, because, make no mistake about it, there is a financial transportation crisis."
TxDOT is expected to have more specific details on the frontage road and interstate closures in the coming weeks, said Hurt, but as for now, drivers are just going to have to deal with it or find an alternate route, the most open being via Hester's Crossing or Greenlawn Boulevard.
