TxDOT unveils $1.3 billion plan to ease congestion

TxDOT unveils an initial $1.3 billion to help alleviate congestion, reduce and improve drive time. The agency plans to do this with several projects.

A study of five the state's largest metropolitan areas shows Texas drivers are losing about 52 hours and $1,200 a year due to traffic congestion. Those major metro areas include Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio.

The cities represent 97 percent of the state's most congested roads.

Gov. Greg Abbott is pushing for new initiatives to help ease the traffic issue. Upon approval by the Texas Transportation Commission, TxDOT plans to improve drive times with the proposed projects.

The projects include adding more than 42 miles of new roads, such as interchanges, flyovers and congestion relief efforts on some of the state's worst roads.

TxDOT has put together a list of the most congested roadways in Texas. Leading the state is I-35 from 290 to 71. After that it's several Houston and Dallas area roads.

Other Austin hot spots include 35 from 71 to Slaughter, Mopac from 183 to 360, 35 from 1431 to SH 45 and 183 from 620 to Mopac.