TxDOT
The ‘Y’ in the Oak Hill neighbourhood of Austin, Texas, where US Route 290 and Texas State Highway 71 separate. Credit: © 2019 Larry D. Moore. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) in the US has conditionally selected the joint venture (JV) of Fluor and Balfour Beatty to rehabilitate and widen a section of US 290 highway.

The financial details of the contract were not divulged.

The project involves renovating and widening a seven-mile section from the east end of Circle Drive to Loop 1 and State Highway 71 to Silvermine Drive in Travis County, west of downtown Austin, Texas.

According to the contract awarded by TxDOT, the JV will be responsible for widening the highway from two to three main lanes for through traffic in each direction.

It will also build three frontage-road lanes in each direction, an overpass for the US 290 main lanes over William Cannon Drive and direct-connect flyovers between US 290 and State Highway 71.

In addition, bicycle and pedestrian accommodations, a seven-mile shared-use path, sidewalks and a trailhead at Williamson Creek on William Cannon Drive will be built.

Cross-street intersection improvements, construction of u-turn lanes and an upstream water detention are also part of the work package.

Fluor Infrastructure & Power business group president Terry Towle said: “This project is part of TxDOT’s long-term plan to promote congestion management in one of the state’s most congested corridors.

“When completed, this project will help improve mobility and operational efficiency, as well as improve safety and emergency response.

Construction work is scheduled to begin early next year and expected to be completed in 2025.

Earlier this year, infrastructure construction company SacyrIngeniería e Infraestructuras (Sacyr) was awarded a contract by TxDOT to build an 8.2 mile (13.2km) bypass of the US59 road in Diboll.