AUSTIN, Texas — State and county leaders, along with representatives from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), held a ribbon cutting to celebrate the completion of improvements made to State Highway 71 in Travis County.
The $70 million SH 71 at Ross Road and Kellam Road project, which began in February 2021, included the construction of overpasses at both intersections and new frontage roads within the 2.5-mile project area, while also adding bike lanes and pedestrian accommodations.
“This project has enhanced safety and improved mobility by allowing drivers on SH 71 to flow through the area without stopping at traffic signals,” TxDOT Austin District Engineer Tucker Ferguson said. “We are well on our way to removing all traffic signals on SH 71, allowing drivers to travel from Austin to Houston without encountering a single traffic signal.”
“This project shows the importance of collaboration between state and local governments, TxDOT and the local community to make this project a reality,” State Rep. Lulu Flores said “These two new overpass bridges will have a big impact on the Del Valle community. They greatly improve mobility. They will alleviate congestion.”
“These upgrades have been a long time coming,” Austin City Councilmember Vanessa Fuentes said. “Today really is a milestone moment for us. It’s symbolic that we are addressing the needs of our region and demonstrates our commitment to multi-modal connectivity.”
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