London-based Balfour Beatty has been selected as the contractor for the $746 million reconstruction of 2.5 miles along the south side of interstate 35 through downtown Austin, Texas, which will eventually link to a future light rail line. This marks a continuation of a relationship between the contractor and the state that has existed for 30 years.
When complete, the highway will offer eight general purpose lanes, upgraded access roads, a bridge, and a new intersection at Riverside Drive, which will support the light rail access.
The bridge will span the 416-acre Lady Bird Lake on the Colorado River and will replace one built in 1956. The bridge will be constructed from a barge which will require marine and engineering expertise to execute.
This announcement is part of the Texas Department of Transportation’s eight-mile, $4.5 billion I-25 Capital Express Central Project, which is going to be tantamount to the mobility of the Central Texas region and will take place in three main projects. Major construction will start in the first half of 2025 and the project is anticipated to be complete in 2033, at which point the state’s most travelled corridors through the north, south, and central parts of the state will enjoy enhanced connectivity.
