2010 News Releases

Construction of the Manor Expressway flyovers at US 183 and US 290 will require the temporary closure of the southbound US 183 entrance ramp at US 290 beginning August 4, 2010. The entrance ramp is expected to reopen by December 2010. During the closure, drivers wishing to access US 183 are encouraged to use the entrance ramp south of US 290 at Manor Road. The ramp closure is necessary to allow the installation of foundations and bridge columns for the future flyover bridges.

State and local officials are launching a study of the MoPac corridor to determine if the construction of two new Express Lanes can improve mobility and transit reliability in the corridor. The proposed MoPac Improvement Project would involve adding one Express Lane in each direction between Cesar Chavez and Parmer Lane. It would also include the construction of sound walls to reduce noise in nearby neighborhoods.

A unique, high definition construction camera is giving Central Texans and internet users worldwide the ability to watch construction of the Manor Expressway project in near real time. The portable, remote control camera, which runs on solar power and communicates via a cellular data connection, is being used by the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority to document construction of the Manor Expressway interchange at US 183. As an added bonus, the Mobility Authority is making images from the camera available to the public via it's project website at www.manorexpressway.com.

Construction of the Manor Expressway direct flyover interchange at US 183 and US 290 will require the temporary closure of the northbound US 183 Cameron Road Exit beginning May 19, 2010. The Cameron Road exit is expected to reopen by September 2010. During the closure, drivers on northbound US 183 wishing to access Cameron Road are encouraged to use the US 290 exit as an alternative.

Construction is officially underway on the five-mile, northern extension of the 183A toll road in Williamson County, following a ceremonial ground breaking ceremony on Thursday, March 25, 2010. The project is being paid for through the sale of toll revenue bonds that will be repaid over the next 30 years by drivers who choose to use the road.

Andrew Martin has joined the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority to serve as General Counsel for the agency. A graduate of the University of Texas School of Law, Martin is currently Counsel with Brown McCarroll, LLP.

In a 13-page decision, the Federal Highway Administration has rejected claims that the Manor Expressway toll road project violates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

In a first of its kind deal, the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority has issued $45 million in subordinated taxable Build America Bonds to fund a portion of its five-mile 183A Toll Road Northern Extension project. The bonds were placed by J.P. Morgan and were purchased by CityView/AE Capital Advisors, a firm that manages assets on behalf of various organizations, including international pension funds.

The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority is celebrating the start of construction on its second roadway project, the Manor Expressway (US 290 East) in east Travis County. The Manor Expressway is a 6.2-mile project that is being constructed in the median of U.S. 290 between U.S. 183 and Parmer Lane east of Austin. A groundbreaking ceremony was held March 10, 2010 to officially celebrate the start of construction.

Austin real estate consultant Charles H. Heimsath has officially been sworn in as the newest member of the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority Board of Directors. Heimsath was appointed to the seven-member Board by the Travis County Commissioners Court, filling a position left vacant following the sudden death in July 2009 of Lowell H. Lebermann, Jr. Heimsath was sworn in by Travis County Commissioner Sarah Eckhardt during a ceremony today at the Mobility Authority's monthly Board meeting.