Austin developer Gary Bradley‘s newly formed Transportation Corridor Constructors is negotiating with the Texas Turnpike Authority to draw up plans for SH 45 South, although the timeline for building the toll road is turning more controversial by the day. SH 45 South, running from FM 1626 in southwest Travis County to I-35, would provide easy access to MoPac for drivers seeking an alternative to the congested interstate. But Bradley says SH 45 needs to be built sooner to meet existing demand and the needs of commercial and residential projects on the horizon — specifically in and around Buda, where he has land holdings.
The city of Austin and the Save Our Springs Alliance want SH 45 South removed from regional road plans altogether because its path crosses directly over environmentally sensitive terrain. An Environmental Impact Study is in progress and should be completed in 2003. In the meantime, the largest governmental arm of road planning gave the go-ahead last week for Bradley’s group, which includes construction heavyweight HB Zachry Co. The Texas Transportation Commission has agreed for Bradley and Co. to draw up agreement terms with the Texas Turnpike Authority in order to begin developing plans for the road from FM 1626 to I-35. “This was done in order to get the ball rolling,” said TxDOT spokeswoman Gaby Garcia. “We’re not saying, ‘go forth and build, we’re saying go forth and develop a plan.'”
This article appears in November 23 • 2001.
