Austin road archive
US 183 through Austin
Austin · Photographs from 1977–2001
US 183 needed freeway capacity, but Austin’s businesses stood in the way. These photographs trace the choices that followed: cleared roadside strips, elevated lanes and interchanges built around a city already in motion.
↗ EnlargeImage contributed by Robert Miller of Austin.
US 183 meets Mopac, with downtown on the horizon.
1977–2001 · 4 photographs
Then and now on US 183
↗ EnlargeUS 183 east of Lamar in 1977
↗ EnlargeUS 183 east of Lamar in 2001
(Click for high resolution 107k). Photo taken 10-May-2001.
These two photos compare the exact same location in 1977 and 2001, looking east just east of Lamar. In 1977, 183 was a six-lane highway with heavy traffic, frequent traffic lights, and heavy commercialization. In other words, a driver's nightmare. The freeway was completed in 1996. The section shown became part of the long elevated structure west of IH-35, although the location shown is partially on embankment rather than an elevated viaduct. The feeder roads are at ground level and are not visible.
↗ EnlargeUS 183 at Braker Lane in 1993
↗ EnlargeUS 183 at Braker Lane in 2001
(Click for high resolution 213k). Photo taken 8-May-2001.
These views both look north from south of Braker Lane. As the 1993 photo shows, work was underway on the feeder roads.
2001 · 6 photographs
North Austin
↗ EnlargeUS 183 and RM 620 intersection
A. This is the intersection of 183 and 620, August 25, 2001. Construction to upgrade 183 to a freeway was in progress. 620, which goes from top to bottom, will be replaced by the SH-45 tollway. In the long run, a 5-level stack is planned for this intersection.
↗ EnlargeOld northbound lanes south of Anderson Mill
↗ EnlargeNew northbound frontage road south of Anderson Mill
B. The two views above show construction south of Anderson Mill. The top photo, taken 25-August-2001, shows traffic on the old 183 northbound lanes. The lower photo, taken 26-August-2001, shows the traffic shifted to the new northbound feeder road.
↗ EnlargeUS 183 north of Loop 1
C. This is a typical section of 183 north of the Loop 1 interchange. The freeway has six main lanes, six lanes of feeders, and a grassy median strip. The future use of the median space is presently under study. This view looks south. Photo taken 26-August-2001.
↗ EnlargeUS 183 at Loop 360
D. This view looks north from the Loop 360 overpass. Photo taken 24-September-2001.
↗ EnlargeUS 183 and Mopac stack
(high resolution 80k) E. View of the stack at Loop 1 (Mopac), with downtown Austin in the background.
2000–2001 · 7 photographs
Elevated US 183 and I-35
↗ EnlargeUS 183 elevated viaduct, August 2000
↗ EnlargeElevated US 183 viaduct
↗ EnlargeElevated US 183 viaduct structure
↗ EnlargeElevated US 183 viaduct and frontage roads
F. Between Loop1 and I-35, the heavy commerialization of the corridor and narrow right-of-way made it necessary to construct the freeway as an elevated viaduct. The freeway main lanes are positioned over the feeder roads. The elevated structure has visually pleasing support beams and the roadway structure is a sleek-looking segmental structure - not the pre-fab concrete beams that you would normally find in Texas. The structure was opened in 1996. Top photo taken August 2000; lower 3 photos taken 17-October-2001.
↗ EnlargeUS 183 signs at I-35
G. 183 at Interstate 35. This view looks east along the eastbound feeder. Photo taken 7-October-2001.
↗ EnlargeUS 183 and I-35 interchange
H. 183 at Interstate 35. This view looks northeast at the 4-level interchange. Notice the sleek connection ramp, which looks more like a California-style ramp rather than a Texas-style ramp. The ramp is a segmental structure, not cast-in-place concrete, however. This interchange opened in 1997. Photo taken 7-October-2001.
↗ EnlargeEastern freeway terminus
(click for high resolution) I. Looking east along the freeway at the present freeway terminus. At left, the highway section of 183 can be seen. New right-of-way will be taken on the right. Construction to upgrade this section to a freeway should begin in 2003. Photo taken 14-October-2001.
2001 · 4 photographs
East Austin
↗ EnlargeUS 183 intersection at US 290
J. Intersection at US 290, looking north along 183 (which is at ground level). A five-level stack with 6 direct connectors is planned for this intersection, but funding is not in place and the interchange probably won't be built until after 2010. Photo taken October 14, 2001.
↗ EnlargeUS 183 south of MLK Road
K. Four lane highway section in east Austin, south of MLK road. 183 East will be upgraded to a freeway. Traffic is horrible on this section of 183 during rush hour. The freeway can't come soon enough. Photo taken October 7, 2001.
↗ EnlargeUnfinished US 183 bridge piers
L. Who stole the bridge deck? These piers have been in place since the 1980's, awaiting funding to build the freeway main lanes. Photo taken October 14, 2001.
↗ EnlargeUS 183 north of Texas 71
M. 183 just north of 71. This will be upgraded to a freeway. There will be substantial business displacements to make way for the freeway. Photo taken October 14, 2001.
From the archive · 1 route map
US 183 in Austin
US183 (Research Blvd. and Bluestein Blvd.)
Also see: 183 construction photos | Austin Roadways Historic Photos
As of 1990, none of US183 through Austin was a freeway. Today, about half of 183 has been upgraded to a freeway. Sometime between 2005 and 2010, all (or nearly all) of 183 through Austin will be a freeway, and the far northern stretch (183A) will likely be a tollway.
Upgrading 183 to a freeway was a tremendously challenging task. West of I-35, 183 was a heavy commercialized strip on a right-of-way about that ranged from 120 to 150 feet wide. Massive and costly business displacements were required to clear a 300 ft wide right-of-way for the freeway. Between I-35 and Loop 1 (Mopac Boulevard), displacements would have been too severe, so the freeway was constructed on an elevated viaduct.
Approximately 3 miles of freeway is currently under construction in north Austin, extending the freeway north of Ranch Road 620 (which will become SH45 tollway). North of 620, 183 will be built on new location as a tollway. Look for construction to begin in 2003.
As of January 2002, most of the projects to upgrade 183 east to a freeway have been funded. However, there are still about 2 unfunded sections. 183 east leads to the new Austin airport, which opened in May 1999, and full freeway access to the airport is needed. The first contract to upgrade this section of freeway, a $10 million interchange at Bolm Road (just north of the Colorado River crossing) was awarded in July 2001.
South of the airport (SH71), 183 is designated to become a freeway, but that should happen after 2010
↗ EnlargeUS 183 location map
| 1960's | 183 is developed into a four-lane (east Austin) and six-lane (north and northwest Austin) highway. |
|---|---|
| Early 1980's ?? | Plans to upgrade 183 to a freeway are finalized. |
| 1990 | The first ramps on the stack at Mopac (Loop 1) are opened. The stack would be complete by the early 1990's. |
| Early 1990's | Right-of-way clearance gets underway. Hundreds of businesses are affected, many are displaced. The first construction begins in the Burnett Road area. |
| 1995 | Several miles of freeway north of Loop 1 and about 1 mile south of Loop 1 are open. |
| 1996 | The elevated viaduct opens. 183 is now a freeway from IH-35 to Spicewood Springs road in northwest Austin. |
| 1997 | The interchange at IH-35 is completed. |
| 1998 | A short extension is completed in northwest Austin. |
| 2000 | Work begins on a 3-mile freeway extension in north Austin, to extend the freeway north of RM 620 (future SH45). |
| 2001 | Work begins on the first section of 183 east to be upgraded to freeway - the intersection at Bolm Road. |
| 2002-2004 | Construction will likely begin on the 183A tollway, the extension of the facility north of RM620. The facility will be almost entirely on new location on a 400 foot (122m) wide right-of-way. Several contracts will also be awarded to upgrade sections of 183 east to a freeway. |
| 2002-2003 | Contracts will be award to upgrade 183 in east Austin (IH-35 to SH71) to a six-lane freeway. As of March 2001, there are one or two short unfunded gaps in the freeway. |