text size

Fix Your Commute: Hwy 183 from Cedar Park

Updated: Wednesday, October 31 2012, 09:23 AM CDT
 
We’ve been asking for your feedback on the Austin traffic hot spots and Hwy 183 from Cedar Park is always at the top of your complaints. To help “Fix Your Commute” Traffic Anchor Erica Harpold went asking questions about what the solution is to relieve traffic on that highway.

She found out from the Texas Department of Transportation that you can’t talk about Hwy 183 without talking about MoPac because if MoPac is backed up so is Hwy 183.


“If you get to people to one spot faster what are they going to do when they get there? So the key part of that puzzle is the managed lane project on MoPac," TxDOT's Christopher Bishop says.


So in comes the MoPac Improvement Project, which will add one tolled express lane in each direction on MoPac from Cesar Chavez St to Parmer Lane.

Construction is supposed to start early next year and it expected to be complete in two to three years.
Once that's done it will be time to address Hwy 183 congestion, which just so happens to be ready for expansion when decision makers find the money to do so.

"Drivers who use that on a regular basis know there's a nice wide median it was left in there for potential regional rail for sometime in the future but it actually works really well for managed lanes," City of Austin Transportation Director Rob Spillar says.

Yes, managed lanes... aka tolled lanes, like the ones on MoPac. That means you'll have the option to go faster if you're willing to pay.

So let’s talk alternate routes - unfortunately there really aren't any great ones.

If you look at the map you'd think RM 620, RR 2222, Loop 360 or Spicewood Springs Road might work, but those all get backed up too. The best advice from TxDOT is to study the traffic patterns during your commute day and time because there are patterns based on the day of the week and time. Also, try to adjust your commute and get out the house earlier to avoid delays. 

Plan your commute on our traffic page at keyetv.com/news/features/traffic/.

By Erica HarpoldFix Your Commute: Hwy 183 from Cedar Park