Central Texas Turnpike System, TX, USA

Increasing traffic volume in Central Texas has frustrated motorists for many years, and a solution to arrest this congestion is urgently needed. With this aim, The Trans Texas Corridor - a long-range plan to improve infrastructure throughout the state that will ultimately incorporate a network of 4,000 miles of road, rail and utilities - has been proposed. This project is decades away as it is still in an early planning / consideration stage.

However, currently in advanced planning and early construction phase is the Central Texas Turnpike System. This is a multipurpose, mixed delivery set of toll roads and interchanges that has been estimated to cost a total of $2.7 billion. This system of four interconnecting roads in the greater Austin area is expected to be completed no later than December 2007.

FINANCE

The sponsors for the Central Texas Turnpike System are the Texas Department of Transport (TxDOT) and the Texas Turnpike Authority (TTA). $800 million has been sourced from a US Department of Transport TIFIA direct loan, with $700 million being sought from the Texas Transportation Commission. Almost $500 million in fund and right of way will be contributed by the local regions, including Travis County, Williamson County, the City of Austin and the City of Round Rock. Additional funds will come from bonds sold by the TTA and by toll revenues, the latter expected to be 12.5 cents per mile traveled (discount passes will also be available).

PROJECT OVERVIEW AND CONTRACTORS

The Central Texas Turnpike System can be divided into four main projects:

SH 45: 16.1 miles, costing $480 million
Loop 1: 4.1 miles, costing $125 million
US 183A: 12.1 miles, costing $190 million
SH 130: 90 miles, costing $916 million

Current status (as of October 2004) is that 12 miles of the State Highway (SH) 45 is already under construction; work on SH 130 is expected to start this month.

Zachry Construction and joint venture partner Gilbert Construction were awarded the contract to construct the SH 45, US 183A roadway, the Loop 1 extension to the future SH 45, and a four-level T-interchange to connect SH 45 to US 183A. Austin Bridge and Road is a construction contractor on SH 45.

By far the biggest project in the Central Texas Turnpike System is the SH 130. The consortium Lone Star Infrastructure (LSI) has been contracted to design, construct and maintain the 90-mile highway. LSI is a joint venture between Fluor Corporation, Balfour Beatty Construction and TJ Lambrecht Company. Other contractors include: Edelman (public information and outreach); DMJM+Harris, an AECOM company, leading the design team - which also includes S&B Infrastructure Ltd, PE Structural Consultants Inc, CTL/Thompson, PSI, Unintech Consulting Engineers Inc, Yvonne Newman Engineering Inc, Turner Collie & Braden Inc and Menon Consortium Inc. OR Colan & Associates, working on behalf of TxDOT, were involved in land acquisition for the SH 130, and Macias & Associates are responsible for surveying and mapping. Hicks & Company are providing a broad range of environmental management and planning services. TBE Group is responsible for minimizing the need for utility relocation and eliminating disruptions in utility services.

Bridgefarmer & Associates provided quality assurance for the design process on SH 130. OTHON, Landtech Consultants and Terra-Mar are consultant engineers to the design project. Atkins-Benham is to support signalisation and traffic control for the design quality control team.

During the construction of SH 130, Raba Kistner Infrastructure Inc will serve as the construction quality assurance firm, monitoring environmental compliance and performing construction inspections and materials testing throughout the construction process.

VMS is providing asset management operations. Project advisers include: Dan Rauscher; Locke Liddell Sapp; Nossaman, Guthner, Knox & Elliott LLP; HDR Inc; PBS&J Inc; HNTB Inc; and TC&B Inc.

STATE HIGHWAY 130

The first 49-mile segment of State Highway 130 is being constructed on a five-year schedule - to be completed before December 2007. The project will include 30 million yd³ of earth, 1.7 million t of asphalt paving and 2.7 million t of concrete. In addition, 119 bridges are proposed, comprising 350,000ft² of steel and 5 million ft² of concrete. As of October 2004, approx. 25% of the bridges are under construction.

Also included in the project are five interchanges that will eventually expand to a six-lane facility with the possibility of a light rail line running between the carriageways. There currently are no plans to develop a rail project. There will be 29 exit / entrance ramp toll plazas. SH 130 is Texas's first highway to be developed under a Comprehensive Development Agreement, allowing the work of property acquisition, design and construction to be undertaken simultaneously.

Over 1,100 workers will be employed on SH 130, including design engineers, environmental specialists, surveyors, construction teams and admin support.

SH 130 DESIGN 'THEME'

It was important when developing the aesthetic design of the SH 130 that it was distinctive, memorable, safe, low maintenance and blended in with the natural environment. Regional characteristics considered included the earth tone colors of the surrounding environment, the use of limestone, regional building patterns and styles, and indigenous vegetation. Consistency of the theme was achieved using a standardized palette of materials, colors and shapes, and landscape materials that reinforced the natural character of the corridor while preserving as much existing vegetation as possible. The designers' challenge was to develop standards that could be used throughout the project, yet with sufficient flexibility to satisfy aesthetic, budgetary and functional expectations.

Some design elements that will be used throughout the SH 130 include:

Each rectangular column at the interchanges, along with retaining walls, will have an ashlar finish (ashlar is a type of stone form liner that resembles a limestone wall)
At major interchanges, the two colors used will be terracotta and buff
The end caps for each column along the SH 130 will have a star as the symbol
Sign supports will consist of square columns with an ashlar finish

The landscaping of SH 130 follows a natural theme, with Texas wildflowers, native plants of the Blackland Prairie and native Texas trees. Also incorporated will be some elements with cultural significance, such as cedar fencing and rubble stone walls.

TOLLS

SH 130 is to be a toll road, and the cost to drive along it will be approx. 12.5 cents per mile. With the use of an electronic toll tag, called TxPass, motorists will receive a discounted rate. TxPass, being developed by TxDOT, is an electronic tag that is mounted on the inside windscreen of a vehicle. TxPass will also be able to be used on other toll roads in the state.

	Map showing the overview plan of the Central Texas Turnpike System.
	Map showing proposed route of the US 183A route.
	Design sketch showing the 'theme' for the toll collection points.
	Design sketch showing the 'theme' for the bridge facings and natural indigenous Texan flora.
	Design sketch showing the planting scheme around toll intersections.
	Each rectangular column at the interchanges, along with retaining walls, will have an ashlar finish.
	The end caps for each column along the SH 130 will have a star as the symbol.
	Sign supports will consist of square columns with an ashlar finish.
	As this direct connector column shows, the color scheme for the CTTP makes use of buff and terracotta.