Semi trucks on the Mopac -what happened??? (San Diego, West: live, congested)

[sojourner77]

I could see why 18-wheelers would use Mopac to avoid I-35. Improving I-35, and rerouting traffic to SH130 is in everyone's best interest, and we should all be supportive.

[Trainwreck20]

Although, from my experience, I see VERY few 18-wheelers on MoPac, at least ones that aren't related to construction.

[sojourner77]

Originally Posted by Trainwreck20

Although, from my experience, I see VERY few 18-wheelers on MoPac, at least ones that aren't related to construction.

I think that is going to change with the SH45 South connection between Mopac and I-35. That will fully complete the I-35 bypass through Austin, and be more attractive than taking SH130 out east.


See the image below - the highlighted route includes the new SH45 being completed in SW Austin. The lack of connection at the south end has not allowed THROUGH traffic on Mopac thus far, but that is going to change. Look at how much shorter, and cheaper it will be to take Mopac, compared to using SH130.

[sojourner77]

connection from Mopac to 1626:


Controversial SH45 SW project declared ready to build*|*Oak Hill Gazette#


the connection to I-35 is being studied:

https://communityimpact.com/austin/n...-extension-35/

[Novacek]

Originally Posted by sojourner77

I think that is going to change with the SH45 South connection between Mopac and I-35. That will fully complete the I-35 bypass through Austin, and be more attractive that taking SH130 out east.


See the image below - the highlighted route includes the new SH45 being completed in SW Austin. The lack of connection at the south end has not allowed THROUGH traffic on Mopac thus far, but that is going to change. Look at how much shorter, and cheaper it will be to take Mopac, compared to using SH130.

45 SW doesn't run to I35.


There still won't be a through connection.

What it does do is shorten the non-connected section. But trucks would still have to go 1626 to 45 (and pay a toll). But even today they _could_ do 1626 to Brodie to Slaughter to Mopac. But as you said, they don't. For most trucks, it still probably won't be worthwhile to divert to 1626, especially if the toll on 45 SW is priced prohibitively.

[Novacek]

Originally Posted by sojourner77

the connection to I-35 is being studied:

https://communityimpact.com/austin/n...-extension-35/

From that link: ". An extension of SH 45 SW from FM 1626 to I-35 is included in the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization’s 2040 long-range transportation plan."

This is a bit of a misstatement. Construction of such a road isn't in the 2040 plan. Only the study and potentially design of such.

http://www.campotexas.org/wp-content...pt5_LowRes.pdf
page 169

[hound 109]

Originally Posted by sojourner77

I think that is going to change with the SH45 South connection between Mopac and I-35. That will fully complete the I-35 bypass through Austin, and be more attractive than taking SH130 out east.


See the image below - the highlighted route includes the new SH45 being completed in SW Austin. The lack of connection at the south end has not allowed THROUGH traffic on Mopac thus far, but that is going to change. Look at how much shorter, and cheaper it will be to take Mopac, compared to using SH130.

The Austin CD Board needed a little jump start. This'll do it.

A proposed Truck Route (bypassing downtown & avoiding I 35) which will roll by & through the Domain, NW Hills, West Austin, Zilker, Rollingwood & Circle C.

On the bright side, Trader Joes will get their deliveries quicker.

[Novacek]

Originally Posted by sojourner77

Look at how much shorter, and cheaper it will be to take Mopac, compared to using SH130.

Such a route is about 5 miles shorter than 45SE/130, yes.
But it's also 5 miles longer than 35. If most trucks aren't taking 130 (even with cheap tolls) because of the increased mileage, most probably won't take such a bypass either (with bad traffic and potentially cost prohibitive tolls).


Such a route isn't really a _bypass_ in the traditional sense, as it hits almost as much (or even more) traffic than just straight through on 35.

[TexasHorseLady]

Originally Posted by A-Tex

Wow. All y'all need to simmer down.

1. It isn't snarking or sniping or hijacking or whatever. Some of us were enjoying a long running CD joke.

2. If you don't see the humorous irony in someone stating that something didn't used to be a certain way in Austin but uses an obvious colloquialism from another region to do so, then I don't know what to tell you.

3. The question was answered right away. By multiple people.

4. Very often Texans are expected to give up their colloquialisms when they leave the state, or do business and have other dealings elsewhere. Indeed y'alls, fixin' tos and the like are are looked down upon in other places as being simple, uneducated or completely misunderstood. Just tell a Californian they can take the feeder and see what happens.

This. And while we're at it, when did they repeal the Texas state law banning the use of "the" before highway names?

Mostly I don't mind it even though it's like fingernails on a blackboard to me, just let people know that it marks them as a newcomer in case that matters to them. I DID draw the line once when a news person on a local station used it - she never did it again so I guess she got the memo!

[Trainwreck20]

Originally Posted by Novacek

Such a route is about 5 miles shorter than 45SE/130, yes.
But it's also 5 miles longer than 35. If most trucks aren't taking 130 (even with cheap tolls) because of the increased mileage, most probably won't take such a bypass either (with bad traffic and potentially cost prohibitive tolls).


Such a route isn't really a _bypass_ in the traditional sense, as it hits almost as much (or even more) traffic than just straight through on 35.

^^This. SW 45, even if it connected to I-35, would do nothing but increase traffic on already congested MoPac. Also, there would still be tolls, presumably on both the north and south end, even if not in the middle. I can't imagine a trucker would take that route over I-35.