As early as Tuesday, the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority says itis implementing a series of significant traffic shifts as it prepares to demolish and rebuild the northbound US 183 bridge over the Colorado River. The work will culminate in the closure of the northbound US 183 exit to downtown Austin and the rerouting of traffic that uses northbound US 183 to reach Airport Boulevard, 7th Street, 5th Street and Cesar Chavez Street.
Southbound US 183 traffic between Bolm Road and Thompson lane will be shifted onto the newly-constructed general-purpose lanes of US 183. CTRMA says this change will restore direct access to Montopolis Drive from southbound US 183. It will also include installation of a new traffic signal at Montopolis Drive and permanent removal of the existing traffic signal at Vargas Road.
The most significant phase of work, which will require the northbound US 183 bridge over the Colorado River to be closed so it can be demolished and replaced, may begin as early as July 12. While the bridge is closed, northbound US 183 traffic will be temporarily shifted onto an adjacent bridge across the Colorado River and the northbound exit to Airport Boulevard, 7th Street, 5th Street, and East Cesar Chavez Street will be closed.
Work to tear down and replace the Colorado River bridge is expected to take approximately one year.
