The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) began 2026 with a series of major infrastructure projects aimed at improving highways, safety, and local mobility across the state. The initiatives span urban and rural areas and focus on expanding capacity, enhancing safety features, and accommodating pedestrians and cyclists.
In Austin, TxDOT is preparing for a significant phase in the $4.5 billion I-35 Capital Express Central project. This phase involves reconstructing the I-35 bridges over Lady Bird Lake. As part of this work, the existing northbound Riverside Drive exit and Holly Street entrance and exit have been permanently closed. To help maintain traffic flow during construction, a new Riverside Drive bypass lane, a temporary Holly Street exit, and a U-turn have been opened. The broader MyMobility35 initiative aims to improve safety, reduce congestion, and provide better facilities for non-motorized users in central Austin.
Williamson County saw the start of Phase 1a of the RM 2243 project. TxDOT joined local officials from Leander and federal partners to break ground on this effort. The project will widen 3.5 miles of RM 2243 between 183A and Garey Park by adding a center turn lane, realigning curves for improved safety, and constructing a shared-use path for pedestrians and cyclists. Completion is expected in early 2028.
In Wimberley, Hays County, TxDOT started nighttime construction on three new traffic signals at RR 12 and Old Kyle Road. These signals are intended to improve safety at a busy intersection while minimizing daytime disruptions by working overnight. Construction will continue into the spring.
The Greater Houston area is also experiencing growth-driven transportation improvements as TxDOT announced plans to expand the Grand Parkway in west Harris County between I-10 and Highway 290. Scheduled to begin this summer, construction will widen the corridor from four lanes to six while replacing cable barriers with concrete ones and adding noise walls where needed.
Safety investments are being made elsewhere in West Texas and the Panhandle as well. In Taylor County near Abilene, TxDOT has outlined plans for a $125 million expansion of I-20 that will add lanes and build an overpass at Judge Ely Boulevard; work is scheduled to begin in late 2026. In Lubbock, crews have begun installing cable median barriers along U.S. 62 between Lubbock and Ropesville as part of a $2.7 million safety project designed to reduce severe crashes.
Amarillo is seeing accessibility upgrades with new ADA improvements underway on I-40 service roads and Washington Street; these include curb ramps, sidewalks, and shared-use paths for better pedestrian access.
These efforts reflect statewide priorities aligned with federal programs focused on modernizing transportation systems nationwide. For example, recent funding allocations under programs such as Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) support projects that make transportation safer, more accessible, affordable, and sustainable across both urban centers like Austin or Houston as well as rural communities throughout Texas (source).
Additionally, accessibility remains a focus at both state and national levels: On the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), winners were announced in a federal Inclusive Design Challenge that sought innovative solutions for mobility among people with disabilities (source). In Amarillo specifically, ongoing ADA improvements aim to create safer pathways for all users.
Other federal guidance continues to shape local projects by encouraging resilience against extreme weather events through dedicated funding streams (source).
From large-scale interstate work in cities like Austin or Houston to targeted upgrades addressing local needs across Texas communities—urban or rural—TxDOT’s activities in January highlight its ongoing commitment to connecting residents throughout the state.
