183 South Project Reaches Interim Milestone

Phase I/North End Improvements Open to Traffic Beginning July 31

(Austin, Texas) –The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority (Mobility Authority) is opening Phase I, or the north end, of the 183 South Project this week. The phased opening will give drivers the option to use the new 183 Toll Road and bypass the traffic signals between US 290 and Techni Center Drive. Drivers who prefer not to pay a toll will still have the option to use the non-tolled general-purpose lanes to reach their destination.

To minimize impacts to traffic, the new tolled lanes will open overnight, with the northbound side opening the night of Tuesday, July 30, and the southbound side opening the night of Wednesday, July 31. This is a major step toward overall completion of the full project, which is on track to be open by late 2020.

Through August 31, drivers with an active electronic tag will not be charged to drive on the toll road. The Mobility Authority accepts any of the following electronic tags: TxTag, TollTag, EZ-Tag, K-TAG, Pikepass, or BancPass. See more information on these electronic tag options.

The 183 Toll Road will utilize all-electronic, or cashless tolling. This means drivers do not have to stop – or even slow down – to pay their tolls. After the introductory free period is over, drivers with any of the electronic tags listed above will receive a 33-percent discount on their tolls. Drivers without a tag will receive a bill through the Mobility Authority’s Pay By Mail program. Pay By Mail customers are billed using a picture of their license plate and are charged a $1 statement processing fee. The toll charge for tag customers making a full-length trip will be $1.21.

Drivers should be aware of some key changes associated with the opening of Phase I/North End. First, this is a phased opening of the tolled lanes, intersection crossings, and the pedestrian/bicycle facilities. This means that not all project elements will be complete right away and there will still be some lane closures, especially during overnight hours. Crews will continue work in the coming weeks to complete the intersection crossings and pedestrian amenities that are part of Phase I. Until the full project is completed, there will continue to be some traffic congestion and travel delays, especially southbound where the new lanes connect with the existing roadway near Techni Center Drive.

Important facts about the Phase I opening:

• The shared use path between MLK Jr. Boulevard and US 290 will be fully open when the new toll road opens. However, the pedestrian bridges at Manor Road and 51St Street are anticipated to open late summer/fall.
• When the northbound 183 Toll Road opens, the temporary traffic signal at Techni Center Drive will be removed. Drivers heading north will stay in the left or center lanes just north of Techni Center Drive if they wish to enter the new 183 Toll Road. Drivers wishing to use the non-tolled general-purpose lanes or the MLK Jr. Boulevard exit should use the center or right lane.
• The Loyola Lane crossing of US 183, which was closed for reconstruction about a year and a half ago, will reopen to traffic shortly after the opening of the new toll road. Drivers on the non-tolled US 183 general-purpose lanes should be prepared to stop at Loyola Lane, as the traffic signal will be turned back on. This will provide drivers with restored east-west connectivity across US 183, but may result in some travel delays. Pedestrian crossing access at this location will be restored soon afterwards.
• Southbound drivers who prefer not to use the toll road should use the last free exit, located just past Manor/Springdale Road, with signs marked for Loyola Lane.
• The southbound bypass at FM 969 (MLK Jr. Boulevard) that allows drivers to avoid the signalized intersection without entering the tolled lanes, will be reduced from two lanes to one. This is necessary to facilitate a safe and smooth transition from the Phase I/North End improvements to the original two-lane roadway south of Techni Center Drive. Additional roadway capacity will be added in phases south of Techni Center Drive as the project moves toward final completion in 2020.

For more information on the Phase I/North End opening, the toll rates, and a map showing the improvements, visit the 183 South website.

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About 183 South:
The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority is building a new tolled expressway with three lanes in each direction on an 8-mile section of US 183 between US 290 and SH 71. In addition, the Mobility Authority is reconstructing and improving the non-tolled US 183 general purpose lanes and adding $25 million worth of pedestrian and bicyclist facilities. The project will open in phases between 2019 and 2020, offering greater mobility for all users of the corridor. For more information, visit www.183South.com

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 in Williamson County, 290 Toll and the 71 Toll Lane in east Austin, the MoPac Express Lane in central Austin, and the 45SW Toll Road in southwest Travis County. The agency is also finishing construction of the 183 South Project and the 290/130 Flyovers Project. For more information about the Mobility Authority, visit www.MobilityAuthority.com.