Like many Austinites, after New Year s Day, Lamar Boulevard is set to go on a diet.
But unlike many Austinites, the road will follow through on its slimming effort. Its so-called road diet will manifest itself in the first phase of safety improvements that will in some stretches permanently remove lanes from South Lamar Boulevard.
The jargon for what is planned for Lamar Boulevard an effort to place greater emphasis on alternative modes of transportation through more robust sidewalks and bike lanes is often referred as a road diet.
With a $6.9 million contract recently approved by the Austin City Council, the first phase of South Lamar Boulevard s diet is expected to begin in January or February. The renovation will focus on the stretch of road between Riverside Drive and Barton Springs Road, just south of Lady Bird Lake.
Council approves contract for first major 2016 mobility bond construction project
By FOX 7 Austin Digital Team
Published
AUSTIN, Texas - Austin City Council has approved a construction contract for mobility and safety improvements to South Lamar Boulevard between Riverside Drive and Barton Springs Road.
The City of Austin’s Corridor Program Office can now proceed with executing a contract with DeNucci Constructors, LLC. for an amount not to exceed around $6.8 million, says the city.
The contract approval marks the first major project to progress to construction as part of the Corridor Construction Program primarily funded by the 2016 Mobility Bond.
“I couldn’t be more pleased that council approved this contract,” said District 5 Councilmember Ann Kitchen in a release. “Soon, this stretch of South Lamar Boulevard near downtown and Lady Bird Lake will be easier and safer for everyone to travel. I have been an advocate for the 2016 Mobility Bond projects from the begi