Item 1: TxDOT Slide Deck — original pdf

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I-35 Capital Express Central Project Tommy Abrego, P.E., University Project Manager Christiana Astarita, P.E., Downtown Project Manager August 14, 2026 August 19, 2026 I-35 Capital Express Central Project - Overview • Limits: US 290 East to SH 71/Ben White Boulevard Connecting you with Texas. • Length: 8 miles • Project Details: - Construct two non-tolled managed lanes in each direction. - Reconstruct ramps, bridges and intersections. - Improve frontage roads. - Enhance bicycle and pedestrian paths. - Accommodate transit routes. • Estimated Construction cost: $4.5 billion • Construction start: Late 2024 2 Connecting you with Texas. Highlighted segments are in active construction 3 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd Bridge Segment • Limits: at Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard Bridge Connecting you with Texas. • Construction cost: $34.4 million • Construction start: November 2024 • Anticipated construction completion: 2026 • Construction improvements: - Reconstruct and widen the Martin Luther King Jr. Bridge to improve connectivity and safety. - Add sidewalks, shade structures and safety barrier along the bridge. - Reconstruct I-35 entrance and exit ramps in both directions. NOTE: Open to traffic before Texas football season. Newly constructed Martin Luther King, Jr, Bridge – Aug. 2026 4 Lady Bird Lake Segment • Limits: Holly Street to SH 71/Ben White Boulevard • Construction cost: $630 million • Construction start: February 2025 • Anticipated construction completion: 2033 • Construction improvements: - Add two high-occupancy-vehicle (HOV) managed lanes in both directions along I-35. - Reconstruct the Lady Bird Lake bridge. - Construct a single-point urban interchange (SPUI) at Riverside Drive that will accommodate future City light rail routes. - Add a pedestrian-only bridge at Woodland Avenue, and improve bicycle and pedestrian paths along corridor. Connecting you with Texas. Barge supporting construction of the east pedestrian bridge at I-35 and Lady Bird Lake. 5 Riverside Drive - Now Connecting you with Texas. 6 Riverside Drive - After Connecting you with Texas. Rendering of the future Riverside Drive SPUI or single-point urban interchange, including connections for future CapMetro rail and improved pedestrian access. 7 Drainage Tunnel and Pump Station Segment Connecting you with Texas. • Limits: Airport Boulevard to Holly Street; Cesar Chavez Street to US 183 • Construction cost: $1.1 billion • Construction start: Early 2025 • Anticipated construction completion: 2029 • Construction improvements: - Install two drainage tunnels and a pump station to improve stormwater management along the corridor. - Access shafts will also be added along I-35 to ensure proper maintenance and operational access to the new infrastructure. 8 Drainage Tunnel and Pump Station Segment cont’d Connecting you with Texas. Drop Shaft at 11th Street – June 2026 Pump Station at Levander Loop – June 2026 9 University Segment Limits: US 290 East to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard Estimated construction cost: $1.48 billion Anticipated construction start: - Advanced construction: 2027 - Ultimate construction: 2028 Construction improvements: • • • • - - - - Add two high-occupancy-vehicle (HOV) managed lanes in both directions along I-35. Reconstruct east-west crossings at Manor Road, Dean Keeton, 32nd Street, 38 ½ Street and Wilshire Boulevard. Reconstruct Airport Boulevard intersection. Add a pedestrian-only bridge at Capital Plaza. Connecting you with Texas. Planned improvements at I-35 and 41st Street 10 Connecting you with Texas. Downtown Segment • Limits: Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to Holly Street • Estimated construction cost: $1.63 billion • Anticipated construction start: - Advanced construction: 2027 - Ultimate construction: 2029 • Construction improvements: - Add two high-occupancy-vehicle (HOV) managed lanes in both directions along I-35. - Build a new frontage road boulevard through downtown. Planned Holly Street bridge - Reconstruct east-west crossings at: Cesar Chavez, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 11th, 12th, and 15th streets. - Construct pedestrian-only bridges at 3rd, 4th, and 15th streets. 11 Connecting you with Texas. Cap and Stitch Overview • In 2017, TxDOT engaged with the City of Austin and the University of Texas on the design of caps over I-35. • The Central project offers an opportunity to cap more than 20 acres of highway, including: - 8 acres of downtown Austin. - 2 acres in Austin’s Historic Black district (11th/12th streets). - 13 acres at the University of Texas. • In May 2025, City of Austin Council authorized funding agreement for $104 million in caps from: - Cesar Chavez Street to 7th Street. - 11th Street to 12th Street. - Two 300-foot stitches between the Red Line and 41st Street. 12 Planned Stitches • Planned Stitches - The City of Austin approved Option B as the preferred planned stitch concept. - The approved concept provides a widened, landscaped and car- free connection across I-35 at 41st Street. - The design supports neighborhood connectivity, walking and biking, and connections to future transit opportunities. - The concept reflects technical considerations, community input and opportunities to enhance the surrounding area. Connecting you with Texas. City of Austin approved option 13 Planned Caps Connecting you with Texas. Proposed deck cap locations as of Aug. 7, 2025 City of Austin Caps ▪ Cesar Chavez St. to 7th St. ▪ 11th to 12th St. 14 4th Street - Now Connecting you with Texas. 15 4th Street - After Connecting you with Texas. 16 8th Street - Now Connecting you with Texas. 17 8th Street – After Connecting you with Texas. 18 12th and 11th Street bridges - Now Connecting you with Texas. 19 11th and 12th Street Cap Connecting you with Texas. 20 Bridge Aesthetics – Manor Road Connecting you with Texas. Planned bridge aesthetics – looking eastbound Planned bridge aesthetics – looking westbound 21 CPP Overview Connecting you with Texas. A COMPANION APP TO TRADITIONAL JOURNEY PLANNING TOOLS 22 Connecting you with Texas. www.txdot.gov/mymobility35 23