Travis County residents will be relieved to hear of new development in the works from the Texas Department of Transportation: the expansion and realignment of FM 973. The proposed development would include rerouting the road east for roughly 5.6 miles between U.S. Route 290 and State Highway 130 toll road. This would allow for an intersection with downtown Manor. It would also expand FM 973 from two total lanes to six, with a grassy median in between.

FM 973 Congestion

This proposition comes after a long-standing traffic issue raised by the surrounding community. Congestion on that highway has become unreasonably high. With the newly established Tesla Gigafactory located nearby, residents have raised concerns about the massive influx of workers (thousands currently employed at this location) being the culprit for this increase in traffic congestion. 

State Improvements

The state’s plan to realign and expand FM 973 could significantly impact the surrounding business and improve traffic for residents. The Texas Department of Transportation stated that the “purpose of the proposed project is to improve mobility and connectivity and provide additional roadway capacity to meet future traffic demands due to population growth.”

With the rapid development and growth of the Tesla Gigafactory, this project will create more accessible access to and from the factory as it continues to develop. This project will also prove to be a beneficial change for the nearby residential areas as well. Providing a better system of transportation and easing congestion will allow neighboring communities to stand out as prime locations for real estate investments and upcoming developments. Already, some communities are underway, such as Lagos by Ashton Woods and Whisper Valley.

Don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions about the expansion of FM 973 or any other developments happening in the area. Email me at tmcneil@kw.com or contact me here with any questions!