Austin is currently undergoing a significant overhaul of its downtown infrastructure, with several large-scale projects aimed at reshaping transportation and community connectivity. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and the City of Austin are leading these efforts, which focus on modernizing the region’s main transportation corridor and reconnecting neighborhoods historically divided by Interstate 35.
Paco Guerrero, P.E., Vice President at Pape-Dawson, outlined five major infrastructure improvements in progress. While expansions to the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and the Walnut Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant will enhance regional capacity, three central projects— I-35 Capital Express Central, Austin Convention Center Redevelopment, and Project Connect—are set to have a direct impact on downtown Austin.
The I-35 Capital Express Central project involves lowering sections of the freeway by about 50 feet and adding new east–west vehicle and pedestrian links. This change is intended to remove barriers between neighborhoods. The convention center redevelopment will create a more integrated space for visitors and locals alike. Project Connect aims to introduce expanded light rail and commuter rail services as part of a broader transit program.
“These efforts represent years of planning, technical collaboration, and community engagement,” said Stacey Gould, P.E., Practice Leader at Pape-Dawson. “They want it to feel like one city from one side to the other, and the depressed main lanes, Cap and Stitch connectivity, and vehicular bridges at grade across the highway will promote that feeling.”
A substantial portion of work is also taking place below ground. Guerrero explained that managing water and wastewater utilities crossing under I-35 has required careful coordination: “To shut down a large transmission main line only once, rather than three times, will save Austin a lot of headaches, time, and money.” Engineers faced challenges when lowering I-35 exposed existing utilities; this led them to reroute wastewater lines outside the interstate corridor into city streets—a first-of-its-kind approach funded in part by TxDOT.
“This stretch of I-35 hasn’t been touched since the 1950s,” Guerrero noted. Addressing longstanding issues takes time due to interconnected design phases for roadways, drainage systems, and utilities. Gould added that accurate upfront data is crucial: “Luckily, Austin has a robust GIS system with lots of information, and TxDOT has done an excellent job of gathering Surface Utility Engineering (SUE), geotechnical, and survey data along the corridor.”
Guerrero also emphasized that securing funding early in such projects can result in significant cost savings during construction.
As these changes progress over several years, residents can expect ongoing traffic disruptions but also long-term benefits for urban mobility and economic growth.
