SH 71 at the Colorado River
SH 71 serves as a major corridor for motorists traveling to and from the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, the city of Bastrop, and other central Texas communities. In 2015, the average daily traffic on SH 71 just east of SH 130 was more than 50,000 vehicles a day. With continued growth in eastern Travis and Bastrop counties, TxDOT is planning improvements to enhance safety and manage congestion for all modes of transportation along SH 71.
Planned improvements
The proposed improvements include:
- Replacing the SH 71 mainlane bridge over the Colorado River
- Building new frontage road bridges over the Colorado River and extending frontage roads
- Constructing new westbound exit ramp bridge across the river
- Replacing the SH 71 mainlane bridges across the Union Pacific Railroad
- Replacing the Gills Branch bridge on the westbound frontage road
- Constructing a new eastbound entrance ramp and frontage road bridge at Union Pacific Railroad