A proposal is being put forward for a 21km extension to the tolled US 290 stretch in Austin, Texas that will cost $127 million. This is intended to boost capacity and cut journey times for drivers in the area.
The 290 Toll Road (Manor Expressway) is a 10km section of toll road in the Austin, Texas metropolitan region. The road connects US 183 in Austin to east of Parmer Lane in Manor, Texas where the road becomes toll-free US 290 and continues east toward Elgin and Houston. The toll facility upgraded the existing US 290, tripling capacity by adding three tolled lanes in each direction, while retainng the three non-tolled, lanes in each direction. The 290 Toll Road links with the north-south US 183 and SH 130 (a Texas Department of Transportation [TxDOT] toll facility).
The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority (CTRMA) opened the 290 Toll in May 2014 after constructing four tolled direct connector ramps between US 183 and what would become the 290 Toll main lanes.
Soon after opening, the new roadway experienced high demand leading to traffic congestion at the intersection of the westbound frontage roads of 290 Toll and the southbound SH 130 frontage roads. CTRMA initiated an interim intersection improvement project in 2015 to address the resulting mobility and safety issues. This included dual right turn lanes on the southbound SH 130 frontage road, a southbound through-lane on the frontage road, the extension of the merge of the sweeping right turn, an extra lane on the westbound entrance ramp to the 290 Toll main lanes, and additional signage. The improvements opened to traffic in 2016.
CTRMA and TxDOT are now looking to provide drivers with free-flowing direct connections and to free up capacity on the frontage road intersection underneath the toll facilities. The 290/130 Flyovers project will add three direct connectors between the two toll roads, augmenting the single existing flyover connecting 290 Toll eastbound (EB) to SH 130 northbound (NB) currently operated by TxDOT.
CTRMA and TxDOT will share the $127 million project cost and CTRMA will deliver the project through a conventional design-bid-build construction contract. CTRMA is financing its two direct connectors with a combination of toll revenue bonds and a TIFIA direct loan. TxDOT is using turnpike system revenue bonds to finance its direct connector.
