Mobility Authority Breaks Ground on 183 North Mobility Project

(Austin, Texas) – Today, the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority (Mobility Authority) Board of Directors celebrated the start of construction on the 183 North Mobility Project at the January monthly Board of Directors meeting.

Instead of a traditional groundbreaking for the 183 North Mobility Project, the Mobility Authority held a virtual “ground-building” to embrace local heroes, deemed “community cultivators,” that nurture our community and help it thrive. For this event, the Mobility Authority acknowledged educators at five Round Rock Independent School District schools located along the 183 North Mobility project corridor. The schools’ educators and staff were celebrated with a ceremonial tree planting and dedication.

“The planting of trees represents a special kind of groundbreaking – one where the soil is turned to sow seeds of community, celebrate those who protect the quality of life for the region and cultivate the improvements that help us grow and move together. It is a beautiful way to mirror the goals of the 183 North Mobility Project,” said Chairman of the Mobility Authority Board of Directors, Bobby Jenkins.

The goal of the 183 North Mobility Project is to increase the quality of life for Central Texans by improving mobility, reducing congestion and providing more reliable travel times for transit and emergency responders along a nine-mile stretch of U.S. 183 between State Highway 45 North and Loop 1 (MoPac).

The 183 North Mobility Project includes construction of two express lanes in each direction and the addition of a general-purpose lane where needed, to bring the number of non-tolled lanes to four in each direction. Express lane direct connectors will be constructed with MoPac to the south. The project also includes operational improvements to southbound MoPac, new shared use path connections, new ADA-compliant sidewalks and cross-street connections for bicycles and pedestrians.

The 183 North Mobility Project comes to the corridor at a crucial time of expansive regional growth, and the groundbreaking event highlighted the need for improvements to U.S. 183 with the project and the Mobility Authority’s commitment to partnering with the community throughout all its projects.

“We’re excited to be breaking ground on the 183 North Mobility Project in this way. Less congestion on 183 North means less time in traffic for our educators, improving quality of life for them and all the lives they touch,” said James Bass, executive director for the Mobility Authority.

Each of the local schools involved in this event was presented with a native species tree of their choice. The Mobility Authority sourced the trees from Moon Valley Nurseries, a local business along the 183 North Mobility Project corridor.

“Round Rock Independent School District is honored that the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority chose to recognize teachers and school staff as cultivators of the next generation of leaders,” said Round Rock Independent School District Community Partnerships Supervisor, Rachael Sefton. “The tree not only symbolizes gratitude from the Mobility Authority, but it also represents the idea that it takes all of us working together to grow our students to become contributors in our world,” Sefton said.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, in lieu of a large in-person event, the Mobility Authority held a small ceremony which was filmed to be shared virtually for the groundbreaking event. The premiere of the video recording was livestreamed for the public and is available to view online.  

Completion of the 183 North Mobility Project is expected in 2026. For more information about the project, visit www.183North.com.

###

Below is a map highlighting the limits of the project. Full press kit materials available by request.

About the Mobility Authority 

The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority is a local, independent government agency created in 2002 to improve the regional transportation system in Travis and Williamson Counties. The Mobility Authority implements innovative and sustainable transportation options to enhance quality of life and economic vitality in Central Texas. The Mobility Authority operates 183A Toll, 290 Toll, the 71 Toll Lane, the MoPac Express Lane, the 45SW Toll Road, and the 183 Toll Road. The agency is also constructing the 183A Phase III Project in Williamson County and the 183 North Mobility Project in north Austin. For more information about the Mobility Authority, visit www.MobilityAuthority.com.