In an effort to make the area more safe, construction begins Monday at a major intersection in North Austin. It's all part of the city's "Vision Zero" action plan that came after a record of 102 deaths on the area's roads last year.
The construction, which will start at 9 a.m., includes the intersection at Lamar Boulevard and Rundberg Lane as well as the intersection at Lamar Boulevard and Rutland Drive. Crews will work to do the following things:
- Add a raised median between Rundberg Lane and Rutland Drive
- Add high visibility crosswalks and fix corner pedestrian ramps
- Add a pedestrian signal and crossing point on Rutland Drive
- Turn the pedestrian signal and crossing point on Rundberg Lane into a full stop light
This is the third intersection of five to receive improvements under the Vision Zero plan.
Changes to Interstate 35 and Martin Luther King Boulevard came first in September. In October, crews made improvements to U.S. Route 183 and Cameron Road. And fixes to Lamar Boulevard and Parmer Lane will start in January. Then it's Slaughter Lane and Manchaca Road in the spring.
The project is expected to cost $647,000 -- and crews hope to have construction complete by February.