Dwyer Realty anxiously attended yesterday's Groundbreaking for the Manor Expressway. The event was well-attended as the project gets underway ahead of schedule.
More from KVUE News:
Toll road could ease traffic in East Travis County
by STEVE ALBERTS / KVUE News
Posted on March 10, 2010
Video available: http://www.kvue.com/news/local/Manor-Expressway-ground-breaking--87282807.html
Austin's traffic troubles have spilled into outlying areas. Now a new construction project using some federal money is set to get underway along U.S. Highway 290.
A ground-breaking ceremony was held Wednesday to kick off construction on a 6.2-mile toll road which received a $60 million federal grant.
Hardies delivery driver Jonathan Gutierrez travels Highway 290 East twice a week to Houston. He knows at times traffic can be a nightmare.
"Here on 290 rush hour is getting worse every day," he said.
Traffic on Highway 290 between Highway 183 and Parmer Lane alone has increased by 78 percent since 1990. Thanks to recently received stimulus money, the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority hopes to alleviate the gridlock -- the Manor Expressway in East Travis County.
"The real benefit of the 290 East Manor Expressway is it will connect the two biggest highways in Central Texas -- SH 130 and IH 35," said Mike Heiligenstein, Executive Director of the Central Texas Mobility Authority.
The first phase of the project will stretch 1.4 miles from Highway 183 and 290 and end at Chimney Rock Road near Springdale Road. It will cost about $193 million. The access roads will remain free. "That connection is desperately needed to reduce congestion and allow the citizens of Williamson and North Travis and the eastern part of the county non-stop access into downtown Austin," said Heiligenstein.
The construction project is expected to be a shot in the arm for the local economy.
"This project is going to employ the heavy equipment operator, it’s going to employ the concrete folks, it’s going to employee the engineers who helped design it," said Pete Dwyer, president of Dwyer Realty.
East Travis County is not only seeing traffic woes, but also huge growth.
Andrew Kim, superintendent Manor ISD -- one of the fastest growing school districts in the State of Texas -- says the Manor Expressway will give drivers the option for faster, safer, reliable routes. "It’s important for us to have safe routes," he said. "It's important for us to have safe ways for providing that type of transportation to our 7,000 students in our school district."
Highway 290 is also a hurricane evacuation route. Mobility Authority officials say the Manor Expressway will help alleviate traffic congestion. The total coast of the project is expected to be around $600 million and be completed in four years.
More from KVUE News:
Toll road could ease traffic in East Travis County
by STEVE ALBERTS / KVUE News
Posted on March 10, 2010
Video available: http://www.kvue.com/news/local/Manor-Expressway-ground-breaking--87282807.html
Austin's traffic troubles have spilled into outlying areas. Now a new construction project using some federal money is set to get underway along U.S. Highway 290.
A ground-breaking ceremony was held Wednesday to kick off construction on a 6.2-mile toll road which received a $60 million federal grant.
Hardies delivery driver Jonathan Gutierrez travels Highway 290 East twice a week to Houston. He knows at times traffic can be a nightmare.
"Here on 290 rush hour is getting worse every day," he said.
Traffic on Highway 290 between Highway 183 and Parmer Lane alone has increased by 78 percent since 1990. Thanks to recently received stimulus money, the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority hopes to alleviate the gridlock -- the Manor Expressway in East Travis County.
"The real benefit of the 290 East Manor Expressway is it will connect the two biggest highways in Central Texas -- SH 130 and IH 35," said Mike Heiligenstein, Executive Director of the Central Texas Mobility Authority.
The first phase of the project will stretch 1.4 miles from Highway 183 and 290 and end at Chimney Rock Road near Springdale Road. It will cost about $193 million. The access roads will remain free. "That connection is desperately needed to reduce congestion and allow the citizens of Williamson and North Travis and the eastern part of the county non-stop access into downtown Austin," said Heiligenstein.
The construction project is expected to be a shot in the arm for the local economy.
"This project is going to employ the heavy equipment operator, it’s going to employ the concrete folks, it’s going to employee the engineers who helped design it," said Pete Dwyer, president of Dwyer Realty.
East Travis County is not only seeing traffic woes, but also huge growth.
Andrew Kim, superintendent Manor ISD -- one of the fastest growing school districts in the State of Texas -- says the Manor Expressway will give drivers the option for faster, safer, reliable routes. "It’s important for us to have safe routes," he said. "It's important for us to have safe ways for providing that type of transportation to our 7,000 students in our school district."
Highway 290 is also a hurricane evacuation route. Mobility Authority officials say the Manor Expressway will help alleviate traffic congestion. The total coast of the project is expected to be around $600 million and be completed in four years.
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