When are they swapping I-35 and SH-130?

[ScoPro]

[Super B]

Originally Posted by hillcountryheart

veloman, we also have through traffic.

The state has the power to force trucks to take certain highways, but of course, the state loveth not liberal Austin. However, with I-35 a federal highway, I think it beggars belief that it hasn't been designated as a non-hazardous cargo route (HC) which would force some truckers to take the toll road. Short of that I suggest APD ticket every truck driver possible and conduct safety checks - make it as difficult as possible to take I-35. Houston, San Antonio and Dallas *all* force HC traffic out of the interstates at their loops.

Very few trucks are HC. The reason I-35 is an acceptable HC route is because Austin has no true loop. Even Tyler, Lufkin and Paris just to name a few have a loop designated for Hazmat Cargo.

Again, in comparison to personal auto traffic, commercial truck traffic is very minimal. The answer is not to eliminate Truck traffic. Would it help? Sure, a little. However, city buses still operate on I-35. Greyhound has a station off of I-35, so they would have to use 35 to get there. Austin is a big city and there is thousands of commercial trucks (18 wheelers included) that service the city daily.

[Super B]

Originally Posted by Novacek

Exactly, there's plenty of room, enough to expand later when traffic flows increase. Why build extra lanes when even under the most optimistic models they wouldn't be fully utilized yet?

My point is, of course they wouldn't be utilized. It's a toll road. I was speaking to the vision planners may have had to eventually turn 130 into I-35 as has been suggested. I am saying they must not have had had that vision from the get go, otherwise they would have included more lanes from the get go. Why build it one way if you are just going to need to have a major road construction project to add more lanes down the road (pardon the pun) a relatively short time later?

[Super B]

Originally Posted by mayfair44

Great post and insight. You'd think that "time is money" would play out, even if you're coughing up a toll to use it. How much does that 45/130 stretch cost you? What's your avg time vs straight up 35?

In my experience on 130 and SE 45, especially south of Ben White, I can't imagine traffic becoming an issue anytime soon. For most passenger vehicles, 80-85mph makes up for extra few miles.

I honestly don't know the cost since my company pays for it. I can tell you started in April, the state is running as special, "trucks pay same as cars" through the remainder of 2013. This has significantly increased the truck traffic.

It's about a 10 mile difference, so a little less than 10 minute difference. A 10 minute difference assuming no traffic slowdowns on 35 that is. You can imagine how much time is save is there is a wreck or two on 35.

[ScoPro]

I would imagine the biggest time differences would be at rush hours and most of the day on Fridays.

[Novacek]

Originally Posted by Super B

My point is, of course they wouldn't be utilized. It's a toll road. I was speaking to the vision planners may have had to eventually turn 130 into I-35 as has been suggested. I am saying they must not have had had that vision from the get go, otherwise they would have included more lanes from the get go. Why build it one way if you are just going to need to have a major road construction project to add more lanes down the road (pardon the pun) a relatively short time later?

"relatively short time" = 20 years???

_if_ they ever decide to do a major project on 35, additional lanes in the existing right-of-way of 130 can be designed and built before they even finish the environmental clearances on a 35 project.

[ScoPro]

Originally Posted by Novacek

"relatively short time" = 20 years???

_if_ they ever decide to do a major project on 35, additional lanes in the existing right-of-way of 130 can be designed and built before they even finish the environmental clearances on a 35 project.

Tell me about it.

Round Rock officials have been talking for decades about building an overpass on 620 near I-35 to alleviate the gridlock at the railroad crossing.

The design & financing has been ready for several years, but I just read in a recent Impact paper that the State finally okayed it, and groundbreaking might happen in 2015....with construction taking another 2 or 3 years.