Six Austin-area transportation projects expand roads, protected bike lanes, and tolled express lanes in 2026

Projects span downtown Austin to Georgetown, Kyle and Bastrop County

A mix of road widenings, protected bicycle infrastructure and tolled express lanes is moving forward across the Austin metro area, with projects at different stages from early construction planning to recently opened facilities. The set of six initiatives ranges from a downtown streetscape redesign to major corridor work intended to add capacity and new multimodal connections.

Downtown: Congress Avenue redesign enters construction window

A phased redesign of Congress Avenue is scheduled to begin its first construction phase in early 2026. Phase 1 targets the segment from Cesar Chavez Street to Seventh Street and is planned to expand sidewalks, add pedestrian amenity zones, upgrade bikeway barriers and add vehicle turn lanes. The first phase is planned for 2026-27, with a longer buildout schedule extending through 2030 for the full project scope. Phase 1 is budgeted at $13 million and the full project at $29 million, funded through local mobility bond allocations.

East corridor planning: Highway 290 extension study advances

On the region’s eastern side, planning work continues for a proposed improvement program along approximately 15 miles of U.S. 290 between SH 130 and SH 95 South in Bastrop County. The project’s near-term milestone is development of an initial schematic design draft expected in mid-2026. Project cost and funding have not been finalized.

Georgetown: DB Wood Road Phase 1 nears traffic milestone

In Georgetown, DB Wood Road Phase 1 is in progress with the goal of opening all four lanes to traffic by March 31, followed by overall completion in July. The project adds four 12-foot lanes, a center turn lane and a shared-use path between SH 29 and Oak Ridge Road. The effort is listed at $29.6 million and is city-funded, with an overall timeline of 2023-26.

Kyle: Old Stagecoach Road widening in final design

Kyle’s Old Stagecoach Road widening and Center Street improvements are in final design. The program is structured as four coordinated segments covering Old Stagecoach Road from Veterans Drive to Main Street and Center Street from Old Stagecoach Road to Veterans Drive. The schedule is 2023-27 with a listed cost of $41.2 million, supported by a 2022 city bond.

Northwest Austin: tolled express lanes open on US 183 segment

In northwest Austin, the first major operational change among the six projects is the opening of the 183 North Mobility Project’s northbound express lanes on Jan. 2, 2026. The larger program includes two tolled express lanes in each direction along U.S. 183 between SH 45 North and MoPac, plus a general-purpose lane expansion intended to bring non-tolled lanes to four in each direction. The project also includes shared-use path connections, sidewalks and bicycle/pedestrian cross-street connections. Total completion remains expected in 2026, with a stated cost of $612 million financed through a mix of federal funding and toll-backed financing mechanisms.

South Austin: Menchaca Road protected bike lane completed

In South Austin, a safety-focused project along Menchaca Road between William Cannon Drive and Ravenscroft Drive was completed in August 2025. The work created a one-lane protected bike lane along the corridor. The project cost was listed at $213,000, funded through 2020 mobility bonds and private development mitigation fees.

Together, the six projects illustrate the region’s current transportation approach: adding roadway capacity in growing suburbs, building out protected bicycle facilities on targeted corridors, and expanding tolled express-lane networks on key highways.

• Near-term construction start: Congress Avenue (early 2026)
• Design milestone expected: U.S. 290 extension schematic draft (mid-2026)
• Recently opened facility: US 183 northbound express lanes (Jan. 2, 2026)