Temporary lane shift on Mopac

Crews will shift traffic on South Mopac beginning Tuesday night.

Mopac woes continue as workers try to get the already-behind construction project finished. Tuesday at 8:00 pm, workers began some lane shifting.

The Mopac Improvement Project is in the home stretch. As Austin waits for the project to cross the finish line, some construction headaches will persist a little while longer. Along with the many lane closures, there will be a slight change, beginning Tuesday night.

“You'll jog to the left a bit, continue down to R.M. 2222 and jog back to the right into the original alignment,” Steve Pustelnyk, spokesperson with CTRMA, said.

The shift will be on Southbound Mopac between 183 and 2222. The shift is expected to be in place the next two months. Officials are urging drivers to slow down in the area. They expect the express lanes to be complete by the end of the year.

“When traffic is heavy tolls will go up to make sure only so many people are getting in the lanes so it stays free flowing and we don't get congestion but as traffic gets lighter we want more people in the lanes so we'll lower the toll and encourage more people to use it,” Pustelnyk said.

Mark Hall lives right along Mopac. He's excited about the finished product but not what comes with the construction. He worries about his kids playing on the street.

“Since Mopac is congested the speed on here is out of control, I'd say 50 and 60 mph. I've almost been hit a couple times,” Hall said.

Just to recap, the mobility authority is adding about 11 miles of express lanes, which will run $2 to $3 during rush hours. They are also adding three miles of bike and pedestrian areas, and seven miles of sound wall, which is exactly where mark hall's home sits.

“It's been noisy but the expansion will help, but we will have to just wait and see,” Hall said.

In June, officials are opening some northbound express lanes to test out.