Whats happening with Austin roads in 2012. Toll roads increase and Mopac is slated to get express lanes in 2012.

Living in Austin is a challenge getting around because so many people have moved here over the last 10-20 years and our roads are not handling the increased usage very well. So we have several road projects in the works for 2012. Many of these projects are slated to be completed this year, which will add more miles to our local roads since 2007 when the first toll roads were completed.

• The Y at Oak Hill- This does not appear to be a Toll road yet, and this project has begun the preliminary work for the eventual expansion from two lanes each way into 3-4 lanes each way. This project will take place in 2-5 years once the environmental review is completed. Once the new road is built it will be tolled with free access roads running parallel to the highway.

• MOPAC North Improvement-The Federal Highway Administration recommends building one express lane in each direction from Cesar Chavez and Parmer Lane. The plan is for this lane to be free to public transit vehicles. This project is expected to be complete in summer/fall of 2012.

• Highway 290-The Manor Expressway is a Toll Road in between Highway 183 and Highway 290. This will have 6 lanes and a three lane non-tolled access road. The estimated cost is $73 million, and the complete project is estimated to be $426 million.

• SH-45 SW- This is a four lane tollway planned to connect FM 1626 to South MOPAC. TXDOT-Texas Department of Transportation is conducting a 2-5 year environmental study for this much needed project. In fact the land for this project was purchased in the early 1990's, but local government has postponed the construction of this road many times. This is a much needed road that will take the Kyle/Buda commuters coming to Austin off of Brodie Lane. Brodie lane was designed and built as a one lane each direction Residential Street and is now being used by far more people than its designed for. In fact the 35 mile an hour limit is constantly exceeded, which is a danger to the local residents.

• 183A Toll Road-This will be a five mile extension of the current toll road 183 from 1431 to just north of RM 2243. This 11 mile long project is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2012 with a cost of $1.35 billion.

Betina Foreman- Realtor, C.N.E.

WJK Realty, Inc.

Austin Texas

(512)771-6318