cross section of I35 showing soon-to-be-installed lighting
Downtown Austin’s stretch of I-35 will receive some much needed improvements, confirming our report from September of last year. Short of burying or capping I-35, these improvements are the best we can hope for. A grant from Keep Austin Beautiful (KAB) will contribute $250,000 towards the landscaping. City Council set aside $1.5MM in form of non-tax supported certificates of obligation (bonds, I guess?). Revenues from the parking underneath the freeway (which will be completely redesigned) will also fund the project.
The project is expected to start in June and take approximately seven months.
Below is a photo of Eastside Drive East Avenue, the boulevard predecessor of I35.
East Avenue before I-35
About Jude Galligan
Jude , I really enjoy your site and appreciate the time and effort that you put into it , it is very informative and has brought insight on projects and the Austin area going ons … keep up the good work … Geoff …
Thanks, Geoff – I appreciate the comment!
Jude, what’s the latest on Waller Creek project? Is that approved and funded as well?
AL, yes it is. The tunnel project is on time and on budget. Construction to commence by Q1 of 2011.
http://downtownaustinblog.org/?s=waller
Thanks Jude, that’s very informative.
I swapped a couple of emails with Brewster McCracken last year about this project, he was one of its big proponents. Brewster confirmed that it’s a long-term plan (say 10-25 years from now) to give Austin its own version of the Big Dig and bury I-35 from the river to the upper deck.
The final version would be great, but I’ll probably just leave town for five years to avoid the construction entirely.
The old road is “East Avenue”, not “Eastside Drive”.
You’re right, I knew that too yet still had it wrong. thanks for the reminder.