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Fix My Commute: Short Term, Long Term Fixes Possible For I-35

Updated: Tuesday, October 30 2012, 07:15 AM CDT

Every morning I-35 builds up in both directions by commuters making their way to the Downtown Austin area. But recently southbound I-35 from Round Rock has gotten increasingly worse.

Even those who drive I-35 every day are at a loss when it comes to a solution.

“Maybe put another lane, widen it? I don't know," Darcy Bruce said.  

But the city and the Texas Department of Transportation are working to come up with one.

"We're in a big city, that's the way it is," Rob Spillar, the Director of Transportation with the City of Austin, said. "I don't know any other big city in the U.S. or in the world that doesn't have mobility challenges."
   
I-35 is nice and wide coming in from Williamson County, through Round Rock and Pflugerville, but you hit downtown and you have to hit the brakes.

"The upper and lower decks are awful," Bruce said. "That's usually where it gets most congested and anytime of the day you never know."

Even though it's a tight squeeze through downtown with historic places on either side, there may be a chance to add a lane.

"We're looking at ways to get express lanes, managed lanes, maybe one more lane of capacity," Spillar said. "We think we can squeeze those in." 

Another option is reworking the access roads and the timing of the lights to get better use there.

In the meantime there are some temporary solutions. If you're willing to pay, there's always the SH 130 toll that goes from Georgetown and now extends all the way to Seguin. The city also recommends MoPac. 

The City of Austin and TxDOT are currently looking into the portion of I-35 between SH 45 North and SH 45 South under the Mobility 35 project. For more information on that click here: http://mobility35.org/

To get Erica’s updates on breaking traffic news every morning follow her on Twitter www.twitter.com/ericaharpold or on Facebook www.facebook.com/ericaharpoldkeyetv.
Fix My Commute: Short Term, Long Term Fixes Possible For I-35