Most Austinites would say that the ongoing expansion of I-35 has only made their daily commutes more troublesome. And that will likely be the case for years to come. However, progress is being made, as the rebuilt Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard bridge over I-35 is now fully operational, Texas Department of Transportation spokesperson Bradley Wheelis told the Chronicle.
After the bridge’s lanes have shifted and temporarily closed over the last two years, workers finished configuring the lanes Sunday, Aug. 9, atop the overpass that serves as a gateway connecting the Eastside to DKR Stadium, Moody Center, and the rest of Downtown. Final touches like pavement markers and permanent lane striping will be laid by December.
Since the configuration of the lanes, construction crews have begun installing shared-use paths and wider sidewalks, as well as barriers separating drivers from pedestrians and cyclists. The additions are intended to improve safety and will be completed “in the next month or so,” Wheelis said. “We wanted to make sure that we got traffic moving in its final configuration, especially considering that the new school year is beginning and UT football is about to get underway.”…