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 [email protected] or contact me here with any questions!

With the Tesla Gigafactory fully established in Austin and now Elon Musk’s, The Boring Company, settling its headquarters in Pflugerville, exciting new developments are coming to the area. With numerous Tesla projects on the horizon, there has been heaps of speculation about the intended use of some of Musk’s more recent proposals.

Upcoming Projects

Since first relocating to Pflugerville in December of 2020, The Boring Company has launched full force into discussions with the state and municipal governments to start development on multiple projects. Until recently, it had seemed as though little was moving forward. 

Private Access Tunnel

On June 21, The Boring Company quietly filed a proposal for a “private access tunnel” under the name “Colorado River Connector Tunnel.”

While there is very little information about this private access tunnel that would be dug under the Tesla Gigafactory in Austin, the idea of underground tunnels running across Texas is not a newly proposed one.

Pedestrian Traffic Tunnel

The Boring Company, in collaboration with Tesla, has been clear about its goals in digging transit tunnels in cities across the country. These developments would dramatically help in the process of alleviating traffic congestion while simultaneously freeing up real estate that was previously dedicated to surface highways and roads. Boring was recently approved for its tunnel expansion in Las Vegas and beginning development of a pedestrian tunnel in the south Austin suburb, Kyle. 

The proposed tunnel would connect Plum Creek, the 2,200-acre residential development housing over 5,000 properties, with Kyle Crossing, the retail development located at Interstate 35 and FM 1626. In its filing for this pedestrian tunnel, The Boring Company also received approval for a $50,000 professional services agreement for a feasibility study as its initial steps.

Loop System

Knowing Tesla and The Boring Company’s track record, a plan is always hiding in the framework. These projects, alongside many other developments expected from The Boring Company, will work cohesively in enhancing the traffic system in the Austin area. One such overarching project was a loop system. This project would connect downtown Austin and the airport with Tesla Gigafactory Texas. 

Some informants following the development of this upcoming project have speculated that it could be part of Musk’s plans to transform the land near his Texas Gigafactory into an “ecological paradise.” His original remarks on this project are as follows: “It’s about 2,000 acres and we’re going to make it a factory that is going to be stunning. It’s right on the Colorado River. So we’re actually going to have a boardwalk, where there’ll be a hiking/biking trail. It’s going to basically be an ecological paradise, birds in the trees, butterflies, fish in the stream, and it’ll be open to the public as well.”

Whether these private and pedestrian tunnel projects are elements of the proposed tunnel systems, a connection to Musk’s “ecological paradise,” or something else entirely, this is exciting news.

Moving Forward

While there is only speculation at this point with many of these developments, news of a filing for this private access tunnel could mean that things are getting underway. Projects like these will contribute immensely to Austin’s continued growth by providing easy, unclogged transportation. Keep your eyes open, Austin is about to become a central hub, linking the rest of the state together. 

Feel free to contact me at [email protected] for any questions about these developments or if you’re curious about other exciting news happening in the Austin area.