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April 16, 2008

2 dead in Jarrell collision

Two men died after a three-car accident last night on Interstate 35 in Williamson County, officials said.

The accident happened at 9:46 p.m. on Interstate 35 at mile marker 271 just south of County Road 311, a dispatcher with the Texas Department of Public Safety said.

Jonathan David Chatham, 22, of Cedar Park and Joaquin Avila, 58, of Austin were both pronounced dead at the scene.

Chatham had been driving a 2000 Ford Contour southbound in the northbound inside lane of Interstate 35 as Avila and another driver, Baldemar Perez, Jr., were traveling northbound. The 2004 Kia Optima Avila was driving collided head-on with the Contour, the dispatcher said. The Optima then struck the front of Perez’ 2007 Ford F-250 pickup truck, but Perez was not injured in the accident, officials said. Both Chatham and Avila had been wearing their seat belts.

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April 3, 2008

One dead in Hays County accident

One person has died after a fatal collision near Buda on Interstate 35 this morning, according to a dispatcher with the Texas Department of Public Safety.

A two-car collision at mile marker 221 at around 3:30 a.m. shut down all southbound traffic for more than an hour this morning. One lane has been re-opened, officials said.

Details of the accident were not immediately available, but according to DPS, at least two people were airlifted to the University Medical Center at Brackenridge. One person died, and the other has critical injuries.

Check back with Statesman.com for more details later.

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March 28, 2008

Traffic this weekend could get messy

Spring football, construction and the Cap 10K will cause traffic headaches and create a potential parking nightmare both on the University of Texas campus and downtown this weekend.

Tonight

The traffic shuffle will start on campus at 24th Street, when part of the street will be closed between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. from the east side of the Hal C. Weaver Power Plant to the west side of the Power Plant Expansion so workers can assemble a crane for a construction project.

Tomorrow

The Orange-White Spring Football Game on campus will keep fans from parking in 52 spaces along the west and east curbs of San Jacinto Boulevard, according to University of Texas officials. If anyone has their car parked in this area, in an “A” or “F21” parking space, it’s best to move it before 1 a.m. Saturday when it could be towed or — as officials at UT said, “relocated, at the vehicle operator’s expense” to a lot near the Texas Swim Center on Robert Dedman Drive.

Sunday

Early in the morning, before the Capitol 10,000 begins on Congress Avenue, Riverside Drive will be closed between South First Street and Lee Barton Drive. Congress Avenue will be closed between Barton Springs Road and Cesar Chavez Street at 4 a.m. Street along the rest of the course will close down at 7 a.m. on Sunday.

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Police investigate possible hit and run

Austin police are investigating the death of a 17-year-old man after an apparent hit and run accident on the lower deck of Interstate 35 near the University of Texas campus.

Lt. Michael Carpenter, a police spokesman, said that a driver called police early this morning around 2 a.m. to report seeing a body in the roadway.

Carpenter said that investigators are not yet sure how long the man’s body had been in the road. His death is being investigated as the city’s 14th traffic fatality this year.

A portion of the lower deck of southbound Interstate 35 was closed this morning as investigators removed the man’s body. His name has not been released pending positive identification and notification of his family, Carpenter said.

Anyone with information about the accident can call detectives at 974-4724

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March 25, 2008

Victim in overnight traffic fatality identified

Police have identified the 19-year-old woman who died after the car she was driving in Southwest Austin crashed into a grove of trees as Susana Rodriguez-Perez, spokesman Sergeant Richard Stresing said this afternoon.

The one-car collision happened around 11:16 Monday night in the 8200 block of Old Bee Cave Road, Stresing said. There were no witnesses, though Stresing said the woman had been speeding when she apparently lost control of the vehicle and went into the grove. She was taken to University Medical Center at Brackenridge, where she later died.

Rodriguez-Perez’ death is Austin’s 12th traffic fatality this year.

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March 13, 2008

Cement truck cleared from Ben White Boulevard

A cement truck accident from this morning near Ben White Boulevard and Riverside Drive has been cleared, but rush hour traffic in the area may be slow, police said.

The accident happened around 4 a.m. this morning, according to police. The driver of the truck was not seriously injured. Westbound traffic was shut down until shortly after 7 a.m., police department spokesman Sergeant Richard Stresing said.

Traffic in the area may still be backed up during rush hour, Stresing warned.

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March 11, 2008

I-35 lane closures rescheduled

From the Williamson County Public Information Office:

The IH-35 southbound main lane closures scheduled for tonight, March 11, have been cancelled due to wet conditions. The closure schedule will now be:

Wednesday, March 12, 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., IH-35 southbound main lane closures
Thursday, March 13, 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., IH-35 southbound main lane closures
Monday, March 17, 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., IH-35 northbound main lane closures
Tuesday, March 18, 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., northbound main lane closures

The actual limits of the closures are: The beginning of the southbound lane closures will start between the Lakeway Drive overpass and the Williams Drive (FM 2338) overpass.

The beginning of the northbound lane closures will start about 3/4 of a mile north of the Westinghouse Road Overpass.

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March 10, 2008

Lower deck of northbound I-35 reopened after diesel fuel spill is cleaned up

UPDATE: The lower deck of Interstate 35 has been reopened

Austin firefighters are cleaning up a 60-gallon diesel fuel spill, which happened when an 18-wheeler jack-knifed on Interstate 35 near 38 1/2 Street and ruptured a fuel tank, officials said.

No injuries were reported.

The lower deck of northbound Interstate 35 and one inside lane of the upper deck of northbound I-35 in the area remain closed.

Motorists are urged to avoid the area.

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March 6, 2008

Man dies in fall from Ben White-Interstate 35 flyover

Austin police say a man died when he was thrown off his motorcycle from the tallest Ben White Boulevard overpass at Interstate 35 onto the median below.

The incident occurred around 2:30 a.m. on the ramp that goes from East Ben White Boulevard to I-35 northbound, Lt. J. Hines said this morning. A witness called police at 2:34 a.m., he said. Witnesses said he was speeding, hit the retaining wall and was ejected from the motorcycle, police said.

The man’s name and age have not been released by authorities, pending notification of his family and positive identification. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Police say this was the eighth traffic fatality in Austin this year.

The service road was shut down for a few hours this morning while officials investigated, but it was re-opened before the morning rush hour.

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February 19, 2008

Man killed in wreck on Texas 71

A man died from his injuries Monday night after the car he was driving rolled over on Texas 71 in Del Valle, Texas Department of Public Safety officials said.

Christopher Trejo, 33, of Austin, was driving westbound on Texas 71 at around 9:30 p.m. when he lost control of a 2007 Ford he was driving. Officials said he was traveling at a high rate of speed and when he went off the roadway on Texas 71 near Dr. Scott Drive in Del Valle. Officials said he went through a ditch before knocking down a fence and rolling over.

Trejo died at the University Medical Center at Brackenridge at 11:35 p.m., according to a DPS dispatcher.

A spokeswoman for DPS said that Trejo was wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident.

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Trejo is the fourth person to die from his injuries after a vehicle accident on Texas 71, though the others died on the other side of the county. On Saturday, Audrey Ducote, 16, and Lauren Hoffman, 17 died after a crash on Texas 71 in Western Travis County. Another teen, Randall Hibler, 16, also died in that accident.

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February 13, 2008

1 killed in Williamson County accident

A 72-year-old Round Rock man was killed early this morning after the pick-up truck he was driving struck a tree in Williamson County, according to Texas Department of Public Safety officials.

Glenn Roy Woods had been driving a 2004 Ford pickup truck south on Spearpoint Cove around midnight, a dispatcher said, when the truck left the road and hit a tree near the intersection of Spearpoint Cove and Hillstone Trail.

DPS is still investigating Woods’ death, which officials say may have been caused by medical problems. He was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident, officials say.

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Hesters Crossing construction wraps tonight

From the Texas Department of Transportation:

Tonight beginning at 8:30pm, TxDOT crews will complete the Phase Two demolition of the Hesters Crossing Bridge in Round Rock which began last Friday, February 8th.

The northbound right lane of Interstate 35 will be closed from SH 45 to McNeil Road so that work crews can demolish the remainder of an abutment on the east side of the bridge. The remaining two northbound main lanes of I-35 will remain open during this process. Traffic on the mainlanes of southbound I-35 will not be affected.

Also tonight, the SH 45 east and west direct connectors to North I-35 will be closed. Along the I-35 northbound access road, the left two lanes will be closed from Dell Centre Dr. to just north of Hester’s Crossing. Traffic on this stretch of the access road will be reduced to one lane.

Demolition and clean-up is expected to be complete by early Thursday morning, February 14th, and all lane closures are scheduled to re-open before morning rush hour. Tonight’s demolition means another weekend closure will not be necessary for Phase Two.

Construction of a new bridge at Hesters Crossing is part of a broader plan to improve mobility in the Hesters Crossing area. TxDOT and the City of Round Rock are also constructing new auxiliary roadways in the area to allow southbound frontage road traffic to bypass the signal at the Hesters Crossing Intersection.

Additional detours and lane closures will occur periodically throughout 2008 to accommodate the construction of the new bridge and auxiliary roadways. Information about these additional closures will be available at www.centraltexasturnpike.org and through recorded announcement on the project information line, 225-1503. Project staff may be contacted during regular business hours at the project office in Pflugerville, 225-1300.

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February 6, 2008

Hays County accident kills 1, seriously injures two teens

Two teenagers are recovering this morning at University Medical Center at Brackenridge after an accident in Hays County last night that left one man dead.

At 8:25 p.m. Tuesday, a 2002 GMC Safari traveling westbound on RM 3237 collided with a 1991 Ford sedan in the eastbound lane near the 500 block of Box Canyon Road, according to a dispatcher with the Texas Department of Public Safety. Both drivers were pinned into their vehicles as a result of the crash, the dispatcher said.

The driver of the GMC, 58-year-old Scott Chamberlain, of Wimberley, died at the scene. Bonnie Sturdivant, 17, the driver of the Ford, and her passenger, Connor Picken, 15, were airlifted to the hospital after the accident.

Sturdivant is listed in fair condition, while Picken is listed in good condition, according to a hospital spokeswoman.

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18-wheeler accident cleared on I-35

Austin police this morning said an 18-wheeler truck transporting car axles overturned in the northbound lane of Interstate 35 near the Woodward Street exit after it collided with a car last night, and while there were no injuries, workers had blocked two lanes of early morning traffic to continue clean up.

The axles had been cleaned up as of 6 a.m. and traffic was slowed on the Interstate coming into Austin beyond the William Cannon Drive exit. The road re-opened at 6:13 a.m.

The accident happened around 11 p.m. last night. A police spokesman said that the truck spilled axles onto a nearby concrete divider between Interstate 35 and the nearby frontage, which made it harder for officials to move the truck upright.

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February 1, 2008

Woman in Northeast Travis County ditch accident ID'd

Department of Public Safety officials this morning said they are still investigating the death of 51-year-old Jan Mary Kaune, of Coupland.

Kaune was discovered Thursday night in a vehicle that had rolled into a water-filled ditch in Northeast Travis County, near 12200 Walton Hill Pass, northeast of Manor. Kaune was pronounced dead at the scene.

Emergency officials said it was unclear how long the vehicle had been in the ditch.

A man who identified himself as a longtime family friend, Juan Oyervides, said that Kaune once operated Kaune Line Farms with her husband, Brant.

They both provided fresh produce at Austin Farmers’ Market for a few years, but the business was discontinued in recent years after the death of Brant Kaune, Oyervides said.

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January 31, 2008

Pedestrian struck, critically injured by car this morning

Austin police are investigating an auto-pedestrian accident that has left at least one person with life-threatening injuries, according to the Austin Police Department.

The incident happened in the 8500 block of Burnet Road, between U.S. 183 and Steck Avenue, just before 8 a.m.

No other details were immediately available.

Watch a video from the scene of the incident.

View Larger Map

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January 30, 2008

Interstate 35 reopens after morning accident cleanup

View Larger Map

Southbound lanes of Interstate 35 near FM 1327 reopened around 11 a.m. today, after an accident involving an 18-wheeler and a car spilled about 400 gallons of fuel and packages of roof shingles onto the highway, officials said this morning.

John Hurt, a spokesman for the Texas Department of Transportation, said crews had cleaned up the fuel, the shingles and the truck by around 10:30 a.m.

The accident that led to the clean up happened around 5:15 a.m. No one was badly injured in the accident, police said, but it snarled traffic for more than five hours.

Marcus Cooper, a spokesman for the Texas Department of Transportation, said there also was minor pavement damage and about 200 feet of guardrail damage.

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January 29, 2008

7-year-old girl dies from injuries in Killeen car wreck

A 7-year-old girl injured in a car wreck Jan. 11 in Killeen died Monday from her injuries, officials said.

Killeen police spokeswoman Carroll Smith said that Shalia Montryce Glenn was one of three passengers in a 2001 Kia Spectra involved in a wreck in the 1100 block of Stan Schlueter Loop around 1 p.m. on Jan. 11. The Spectra struck a 1999 Dodge Ram pickup that was trying to turn left, Smith said. The wreck is still under investigation.

Glenn was taken to Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center, then airlifted to Scott and White Hospital in Temple. She remained in critical condition there until she died at 3 p.m. Monday, Smith said.

The three other passengers — a 10- and an 11-year-old, and a 33-year-old — were not badly injured, Smith said. They were not identified by police.

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January 16, 2008

Bicyclist hit by car in North Austin

A 15-year-old bicyclist is in critical condition and undergoing surgery at Brackenridge Hospital after he was hit by a minivan in North Austin this afternoon.

The collision happened about 4:30 p.m . at 5405 North Lamar Boulevard, said Austin Police spokesman Joe Munoz. The car stopped at the scene, he said.

Lamar Boulevard will be closed in both directions just south of Koenig Lane until 7 p.m., police said.

Further details were not yet available.

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January 11, 2008

Odd oil spill in downtown Austin closes part of Sixth Street

City workers are still working to clean up a ruptured water line that sent thousands of gallons of an oil-and-water mixture over parts of Sixth Street and into Waller Creek on Thursday night, Austin Water Utility spokesman Kevin Buchman said this morning.

Crews had cleaned up 20,000 gallons of an oil-water mixture coming from the alley between the Driskill Hotel and the Littlefield building by 8 a.m., Buchman said.

It is unclear what caused oil to spill out with the water. Buchman said the source of the oil has not yet been determined, but that the oil had been contained and there were no environmental concerns because of the leak.

Because of the incident, water was cut off at the Driskill Hotel for a short period of time, Buchman said, but the hotel now has an alternate source of water. The Littlefield Building and other businesses in the area will also be without water today as crews clean up and repair the water line. Building managers posted a sign at the entrance of the Littlefield Building today saying there would be no water and that visitors would not be able to use the building’s restaurant or restrooms.

Two lanes of Sixth Street are currently closed between Brazos Street and Congress Avenue as crews break up the road to make repairs to the line. Buchman said he was not sure what caused the line to break.

Austin Fire Department Battalion Chief Palmer Buck said a passerby who saw the oil coming up from underground next to the Driskill Hotel called fire officials around 8:40 p.m.

“We were concerned that we also encountered oil flowing from under the ground,” Buchman said. He said some of the mixture entered a storm drain that led to the Waller Creek watershed protection area. Buchman said officials are not sure what type of oil was mixed in with the water.

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January 6, 2008

Former Mayor Gus Garcia involved in fatal auto-pedestrian crash

Former Austin Mayor Gus Garcia was driving on North Lamar Boulevard on Sunday night when he struck and killed a pedestrian. It was the city’s first traffic fatality of 2008.

Austin Police Department Detective James Mason said the victim, a Hispanic man in his late 20s or early 30s whose name has not been released, walked into the street about 6:45 p.m. in the the 10400 block of North Lamar, near Sagebrush Drive south of Braker Lane, when he was struck by a northbound white Toyota sedan.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

“It was unfortunate,” said Garcia, who served as mayor from 2001 to 2003. “The man crossed the street, and I couldn’t see him. He came out of nowhere.”

Garcia, 73, said he was driving to dinner with his son when the man stepped into the roadway. He stopped the car, went over to the man and called 911. He later gave a blood sample to investigators to test for alcohol or drugs in his system.

Mason said investigators don’t think that speed, alcohol or drugs were factors in the crash.

“It was dark, and the pedestrian was crossing mid-block, which you shouldn’t do,” Mason said.

Garcia was shaken.

“You don’t feel good about it,” Garcia said. “I can’t describe it any more than that.”

Mason said the driver was upset and was interviewed at the scene by victims’ services counselors. Garcia said that the police officers, Austin/Travis County Emergency Medical Services employees and victims services workers who aided him at the scene were “wonderful.”

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Pin-in collision on Highway 79

Officials are on the scene of an accident near Taylor where someone could be pinned in a vehicle.

The collision happened late Sunday morning on U.S. 79 between Taylor and Thrall in east Williamson County, said John Foster, spokesman for the Williamson County Sheriff’s Department. The Texas Department of Public Safety is still on the scene. A spokesman for the department said no further information was available.

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January 5, 2008

Man crashes truck into fire station

A man crashed his pickup into the wall of an Austin Fire Department station this afternoon after suffering a heart attack while behind the wheel, authorities said.

Fire Department spokesman David Belknap said the man, whose name has not been released but who is about 55 years old, was driving east on Braker Lane about 3:15 p.m. when his truck went off the road, crashed through two fences and slammed into the wall of Station 30 at 1021 W. Braker Lane.

Although debris flew into a window, two firefighters inside were not hurt, Belknap said.

The firefighters immediately removed the victim from his truck and administered CPR and a defibrillator shock when his heart stopped, Belknap said. The man was taken to Brackenridge Hospital, where he suffered another heart attack.

Belknap said that the driver was alone in the vehicle and that no one else was injured.

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December 16, 2007

One killed, two injured in wreck

A Killeen man was killed and two others were injured in an early morning wreck Sunday.

Kenneth Lincoln was traveling north on Texas 195 north of Georgetown at 3 a.m. when he veered into oncoming traffic, striking a Ford SUV head-on, a Texas Department of Public Safety dispatcher said.

Lincoln, a 37-year-old Killeen resident, was taken to Brackenridge Hospital in Austin and later died. A passenger in Lincoln’s car and the driver of the Ford, 41-year-old Glenda Gilliam of Killeen, were taken to Brackenridge Hospital with serious injuries.

All three were wearing seatbelts, officials said. The cause of the wreck is still being investigated.

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December 6, 2007

DPS: At least one injured in morning collision

One man was taken to Brackenridge Hospital after a morning collision between a vehicle and motorcycle this morning, a dispatcher with the Texas Department of Public Safety said.

The collision happened at around 6 a.m. near the intersection of Texas 71 and FM 1209 in Bastrop County.

The Bastrop County sheriff’s office said the extent of the motorcycle rider’s injuries were unknown. Austin Travis County Emergency Medical Services provided STARFlight to take the rider to the hospital, an EMS spokesman said.

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December 4, 2007

Northbound IH-35 south of Waco completely shut down

From the Texas Department of Public Safety:

A multiple-vehicle wreck, which occurred at about 3:15, on I-35 northbound, just south of Loop 340/Highway 6 (at mile marker 329), has closed all northbound lanes on the interstate.

Traffic has been diverted to the northbound service road, and clean-up is expected to take at least a couple of hours.

One of the vehicles spilled a large amount of paint on the highway.

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December 3, 2007

Elgin man struck and killed in Bastrop County Sunday night

A 36-year-old Elgin man was killed Sunday as he tried to pick up scrap metal that had fallen from the back of his truck on Texas 95, according to a dispatcher with the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Rodney DeWayne Palmer was traveling southbound on 95 when he noticed some scrap metal had fallen from the back of his truck, the dispatcher said. Officials said Palmer pulled the 1986 Toyota pickup truck partially onto the shoulder, about three miles south of Elgin at 7 p.m. Sunday.

As Palmer was collecting pieces of scrap metal from the road, Bobby Lynn Alsup, 51, hit the back of the pickup with the 1985 Chevrolet pickup truck he was driving, according to the dispatcher. Alsup then struck Palmer.

Palmer died at the scene, officials said. Alsup, of Bastrop, was taken to Brackenridge Hospital with non-life threatening injuries Sunday, according to DPS. Alsup was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident.

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November 22, 2007

I-35 opens after overnight traffic accident closes northbound lanes

The northbound lanes of Interstate 35 at Riverside Drive were closed Thursday morning after an early morning collision between an 18-wheeler, which caught fire, and a car that was traveling in the wrong direction.

All lanes are now open, and traffic is no longer being diverted to frontage roads.

The driver of the car was treated and released.

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I-35 still closed after overnight accident

The northbound lanes of Interstate 35 at Riverside Drive remained closed Thursday morning after an early morning collision between an 18-wheeler, which caught fire, and a car that was traveling in the wrong direction.

Traffic is being diverted to the frontage road while the road is repaired. Austin police expect the interstate to open about 12:30 p.m.

Police are recommending that traveler find alternative routes to I-35.

The driver of the car was treated and released.

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November 20, 2007

Burnet County investigators at the scene of fatal collision

At least one person has died in a traffic collision in Burnet County, according to Texas Department of Public Safety officials there. The accident happened this morning around 6:30 a.m. near Marble Falls on Texas 71 east of Spicewood Springs, a dispatcher with the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office said.

Paramedics with the Austin/Travis County Emergency Medical Services dispatched STARFlight to help officials at the scene of the accident, but they later canceled their trip because of weather, according to EMS spokesman Warren Hassinger.

No details about how the accident happened or who was involved were immediately available.

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November 9, 2007

Veteran's Day weekend street closures

Major events happening this weekend in the downtown area will result in street closures Saturday and Sunday, November 10-11, 2007.

The events include Bevo Boulevard, ESPN Radio College Home Game Day, Austin Farmer’s Market, EAS 10 Miler 2007, and The Veteran’s Day Parade 2007.

Austin Farmer’s Market street closures include West 4th Street from Guadalupe Street to San Antonio Street. The street closures are from 8 a.m. to 1p.m.

Bevo Boulevard street closures include all of East 18th Street between Brazos Street and San Jacinto Boulevard. Street closures are expected to start four hours before the start of the game at 2:30 p.m.

In addition, ESPN Radio College Home Game Day will close the entire roadway on East 17th Street between San Jacinto and Trinity Street at the same time as Bevo Boulevard.

On Sunday, the two events that will impact downtown drivers are the EAS 10 Miler 2007 and the Veteran’s Day Parade 2007.

The race is scheduled to start at 7 a.m. with streets closing as early as 4 a.m. and re-opening at 12 p.m. The street closures for this event include:
* Pecos Street from Enfield Road to Scenic Drive
* Stephen F. Austin Drive from West Cesar Chavez Street to San Antonio Street
* Veterans Drive from Lake Austin Boulevard to Stephen Drive
* San Antonio Street from West 4th Street to West Cesar Chavez Street
* West Cesar Chavez Street from San Antonio Street to Atlanta Street
* Lake Austin Blvd from Atlanta Street to Exposition Blvd
* Exposition Blvd from Lake Austin Blvd to Enfield Road
* Enfield Road from Exposition Blvd to Pecos Street
* Scenic Drive from Pecos Street to Kennelwood Road
* Kennelwood Road from Scenic Drive to Rockmoor Avenue
* Rockmoor Avenue from Kennelwood Road to Cherry Lane
* Cherry Lane from Rockmoor Avenue to Scenic Drive
* Lake Austin Blvd from Scenic Drive to Veterans Drive.

The Veteran’s Day Parade is scheduled to start at 9:15 a.m. with streets closing as early as 6 a.m. and re-opening at noon.

Closures include:
* Congress Avenue from East Cesar Chavez Street to E. 11th Street.
* South Congress Avenue from Riverside to East Cesar Chavez Street.
* E. Cesar Chavez Street from Lavaca to Brazos Street.
* 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th Streets between Colorado and Brazos Street.
*11th Street from Colorado to San Jacinto.

Motorists are encouraged to drive with caution when in the downtown area due to high pedestrian traffic. Also note that the University of Texas football team will be playing here at home with kick off time at 2:30 p.m.

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November 8, 2007

Wanted: Drivers who try to save time by driving dangerously

Try to save yourself some time by driving on a shoulder and you’re likely to get a fine of up to $500, according to the Travis County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies this morning were monitoring heavy traffic in Northwest Travis County this morning after getting increasing complaints over the last few months about impatient drivers, Travis County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Roger Wade said.

Last week, deputies monitored rush hour traffic and issued warnings at Capital of Texas Highway (Loop 360) and FM 2222, he said. This week, though, they’ve been back to see if drivers have gotten better — but they haven’t.

“People are waiting to make that right turn legally are being stopped by drivers driving illegally on the shoulder,” Wade said. “Then there are the bicyclists out here on 360 who are at risk.”

Within an hour’s time, 49 drivers were ticketed this morning alone, Wade said, for getting out of a line of traffic to pass drivers illegally by driving on an improved shoulder. On Tuesday, deputies ticketed 79 drivers in 2 hours, Wade said.

“We’ve been getting complaints from drivers on their cell phones and residents over the past few months,” Wade said. “We don’t want it to escalate in to road rage.”

Wade said that he witnessed at least one near collision this morning at the intersection. He said deputies will continue to monitor intersections along Capital of Texas Highway over the next couple of weeks to try to prevent drivers from driving on road shoulders.

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October 19, 2007

One killed, two injured in collision

A head-on collision on U.S. 183 in Mustang Ridge killed one man and injured two others this morning.

The highway has been closed since 11:30 a.m. when a southbound Cadillac car crossed into the northbound lanes and struck a Chevrolet pickup near Texas 21. After the collision, the pickup burst into flames, said Mustang Ridge Police Chief Chevo Pastrano.

Emergency personnel pulled the driver of the pickup from the burning vehicle. He was taken by STARflight helicopter along with a male passenger from the Cadillac to an unspecified area hospital. Their conditions are unknown.

The man driving the Cadillac was pronounced dead on the scene, Pastrano said.

Police are not releasing the identities of those involved in the wreck because they are still notifying their families, Pastrano said.

Police are still investigating the collision but expect to reopen the highway by 3 p.m., Pastrano said.

Mustang Ridge is south of Austin on U.S. 183 near the Caldwell-Travis county lines.

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October 8, 2007

Northbound lanes of S. I-35 at Woodland Ave. reopen

Update: The collision that was blocking the northbound lanes of South Interstate 35, at Woodland Avenue, has been cleared and the road is now open, police said.

The northbound lanes were closed after a collision this afternoon, said police Detective James Mason.

Previous report: All northbound lanes of South Interstate 35 at Woodland Avenue have been shut down due to a collision, police said.

The accident happened about about 3:30 p.m., police Detective James Mason said.

Mason said the interstate will likely be back open within the next hour.

No further details were available.

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October 5, 2007

Smooth sailing to Dallas? Traffic keeps moving on I-35

Football fans heading north to Dallas for the Texas-Oklahoma football game don’t have to worry about heavy traffic - at least for now.

Traffic was cruising along I-35 as of 2:15 p.m. Friday. All reports we’re receiving from staff and from various officials show a smooth ride into Dallas.

The only glitch at this time is a 4-mile work zone in Hill County that has lane reductions in place for northbound traffic, providing only one lane in each direction at the I-35 east/west split north of Hillsboro. But there’s a way around it. Sports editor John Bridges looped around the lane closure by taking FM 308.

The two-lane road, which connects with I-35 just north of Waco and loops east of the interstate before rejoining it between Hillsboro and Waxahachie, offers a nice view of cottonfields … and hardly any other cars, Bridges reports.

The trip from Austin to Dallas, with the detour and a pit stop, took about three hours and 10 minutes, Bridges said. Of course, that was leaving at 8:30 a.m., much earlier than most Longhorn fans will be making the trek.

Travel lanes on I-35 increase to two lanes approximately one quarter mile north of the split. At 3:20 p.m., a statesman.com reporter said traffic was down to about 15 mph near the split. The alternate route of FM 308 is sounding better …

If you stay on I-35, follow the signs and stay in the right lane north of Farm to Market 286 in Hillsboro in order to access the single lane leading to I-35E northbound.

This construction project is part of an ongoing $1 billion effort to expand I-35 between Georgetown and Hillsboro.

Currently, 17 projects on I-35 are either underway or scheduled for construction along this 94-mile stretch of highway, through 2011.

As a result, football fans and all motorists traveling through the area will contend with the possible delays for several years to come.

“We hate to slow anyone down heading to Dallas for the game,” said Amadeo Saenz, TxDOT executive director. “I urge everyone to have a safe and sober drive to Dallas this weekend.”

Saenz noted roughly 45 percent of the state’s population lives within 50 miles of I-35.

Permalink | Categories: Traffic

September 26, 2007

15-car collision snarls morning traffic

A 15-car wreck Wednesday morning snarled traffic in South Austin in the 4000 block of South MoPac Boulevard (Loop 1). EMS officials said that all the people involved refused treatment this morning. The wreck happened around 7 a.m.

Police spokeswoman Laura Albrecht said this morning that rear-end collisions like the one that caused this morning’s crashes happen all over the city, particularly when motorists follow the drivers in front of them too closely.

The cause of the pile-up was not immediately known. The wreck was cleared up by 8 a.m.

Permalink | Categories: Traffic

September 21, 2007

One killed in collision west of Bastrop

A woman died Thursday and four people were sent to the hospital after a two-vehicle collision in Bastrop County, a Department of Public Safety official said.

About 4:48 p.m., Susan Moore, 46 of Cedar Creek, was driving a pickup east on Texas 21, about 2 miles west of Bastrop, when she drove into oncoming traffic and struck a westbound sports utility vehicle driven by Patrick Mcateer, 55, DPS communications operator James Parrish said.

A passenger in the SUV, Ellen Mcgurk, 39 of Belfast, Ireland, died at the scene, Parrish said.

Mcateer, passengers Sharon Sanders, 59, and Paul Mcgurk, 39, and Moore were all taken to Brackenridge Hospital in stable condition.

Everyone involved in the collision was wearing a seat belt.

Permalink | Categories: Traffic

September 20, 2007

Bastrop man killed in traffic accident

A 51-year-old passenger died Wednesday night when the pickup truck he was riding in rolled over multiple times, a Texas Department of Public Safety dispatcher said this morning.

The accident happened around 11 p.m. on Texas 95, four miles south of Elgin, officials said. Cindy Fisher, 40, of Bastrop, was driving a 2000 Ford F150 pickup truck northbound at an unsafe speed, the dispatcher said. Fisher lost control of the car, it rolled over multiple times and Evan Spencer, of Bastrop, died from his injuries at the scene, according to authorities.

Fisher was taken to Brackenridge Hospital in stable condition, the dispatcher said. According to DPS, Fisher and Spencer were not wearing seatbelts at the time of the accident.

Permalink | Categories: Traffic

September 17, 2007

Two die in Mustang Ridge collision; section of U.S. 183 has reopened

A 6-year-old girl and her mother were killed this morning when the silver Volkswagen they were in struck the back of an 18-wheeler, a dispatcher with the Mustang Ridge Police Department said. A 3-year-old child in the car at the time also was injured and is in the hospital, though the dispatcher said he did not know the child’s condition.

The accident, which happened around 3 a.m., shut down U.S. 183 between FM 1327 and Texas 21 for about eight hours while officials investigated the wreck. The highway reopened around 11 a.m.

The 18-wheeler was traveling south on U.S. 183 and the Volkswagen was traveling north when the Volkswagen traveled into the southbound lane and struck the back of the truck, police said.

The names of the girl, the toddler and the mother have not been released by authorities.

Permalink | Categories: Traffic

September 12, 2007

Pedestrian struck, killed near Cabela's; traffic delayed for miles

Investigators with the Texas Department of Public Safety are at the scene of an auto-pedestrian accident near Cabela’s on northbound Interstate 35, according to Hays County officials. The pedestrian was killed, and traffic is backed up for miles.

Leroy Opiela, a spokesman for the Hays County Sheriff’s office, said that the Interstate was down to two lanes of traffic while investigators clear up the scene.

The incident happened at the 219 mile marker on the Interstate at around 7:30 a.m., but no other information about the accident was immediately available.

Permalink | Categories: Traffic

Pedestrian struck, killed near Cabela's; I-35 traffic delayed for miles

Investigators with the Texas Department of Public Safety are at the scene of an auto-pedestrian accident near Cabela’s on northbound Interstate 35, according to Hays County officials. The pedestrian was killed, and traffic is backed up for miles.

Leroy Opiela, a spokesman for the Hays County Sheriff’s office, said that the Interstate was down to two lanes of traffic while investigators clear up the scene.

The incident happened at the 219 mile marker on the Interstate at around 7:30 a.m., but no other information about the accident was immediately available.

Permalink | Categories: Traffic

September 11, 2007

Hays County roadway reopened

From the Hays County sheriff’s office:

Shortly after 1 p.m. today, authorities reopened the portion of RM 12 that was blocked by an overturned 18-wheeler. The location was just south of Dripping Springs between U.S. 290 and FM 150.

Permalink | Categories: Traffic

Truck overturns in Hays County, blocks RM 12

From the Hays County sheriff’s department:

Sometime after 10 a.m. today, an 18-wheeler semi-trailer tractor lost control and overturned on RM 12. The accident is between U.S. 290 and FM 150, on RM 12, just south of Dripping Springs.

The overturned rig has the entire roadway of RM 12 blocked. Due to this, authorities have closed RM 12 from U.S. 290 to FM 150.

Motorists are urged to use Dardin Hill Road or find an alternate route to bypass the portion of the county. It is anticipated that this part of the roadway will be closed for some two to three hours until the road is cleared.

Permalink | Categories: Traffic

August 14, 2007

I-35 Northbound closed due to truck fire, again

Georgetown police report that the northbound lanes of I-35 are closed in the vicinity of mile marker 262 due to a U-Haul truck that was on fire. Police received the call at 9 p.m. The truck was reportedly fully engulfed before Georgetown Fire Department crews extinguished the fire at about 9:20.

No injuries have been reported.

Southbound lanes of I-35 re-opened shortly after 9:30.

The truck that caught fire is apparently in the northbound lanes between Williams Drive and Lakeway Drive. This is very close to the Lakeway Drive exit 264 northbound where a semi-truck burned after hitting a sign support column yesterday.

Permalink | Categories: Traffic

August 13, 2007

18-wheeler on fire, I-35 shut down at Lakeway Drive

From the City of Georgetown:

Police report that an 18-wheeler has hit an overpass on I-35 in Georgetown and is on fire. Reports indicate this is at the Lakeway Drive overpass, which is exit 264. The incident occurred shortly after 11:30.

Both the northbound and southbound lanes are currently shut down, and traffic is being diverted to the access road.

The driver of the truck got out of the cab. His status is unknown at this time.

Permalink | Categories: Traffic

August 9, 2007

I-35 exit 260 to re-open Friday

From the City of Georgetown:

The Leander Road/RM 2243 exit 260 on southbound Interstate 35 is scheduled to re-open on the morning of Friday, August 10. The exit has been closed since June while the Texas Department of Transportation reconfigures the entrance and entrance ramps between Leander Road and University Avenue/Texas 29.

The ramps have been rebuilt to improve the safety of exiting and merging traffic. The new exit ramp for Leander Road on southbound I-35 is north of the South San Gabriel River, while the I-35 on-ramp is south of the River.

A new section of continuous southbound I-35 frontage road between University Avenue and Leander Road opened earlier this summer.

Permalink | Categories: Traffic

June 21, 2007

One dead in morning collision between motorcycle an 18-wheeler

Travis County officials say one person died this morning in a collision involving a motorcycle and an 18-wheeler. The person has not been identified.

The accident happened at around 6 a.m. in the 18300 block of U.S. 290 East. Traffic in the area is being diverted to County Line Road while officials clean up the scene, a dispatcher with the Travis County sheriff’s office said. Motorists are urged to avoid the area if possible.

Above, the scene of the accident this morning.


Above, the motorcycle involved in the wreck.

Permalink | Categories: Traffic

June 15, 2007

Life's a parade

From Lavaca to Lamar, from Riverside to Congress, for blocks all you see are cars, cars and, occasionally, an 18-wheeler blocking one or two lanes on Austin’s narrow downtown streets.

However, there are alternatives: If you find yourself not moving, park the car and walk — you might start a revolution — take a Cap Metro bus or just wait in the office for the whole thing to clear. Austinites just love to sit in traffic and stay late in the office on a Friday, right?

Permalink | Categories: Traffic

June 14, 2007

City announces Juneteenth street closures

From the City of Austin:

Run & Walk and Parade

For the Juneteenth Run & Walk and Parade the following streets will be closed from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., Tuesday, June 19: Comal Street from E. 13th Street to E. 21st Street, E. Martin Luther King Boulevard from Comal Street to Chicon Street, and Chicon Street from E. 11th Street to E. Martin Luther King Boulevard. These roads will be completely closed until 1 p.m., when they will re-open.

The 2-K Run & Walk will begin at 9:30 a.m., followed by the parade beginning at 10 a.m. The parade will begin at Comal Street heading east on E. Martin Luther King Boulevard, turn south onto Chicon Street, and then east on Rosewood Avenue until Rosewood Park.

Festival

The following streets will be closed for the Juneteenth Festival from 5 a.m. to midnight, Tuesday, June 19: Rosewood Avenue from Chicon Street to Walnut Avenue, Chestnut Avenue between E. 11th Street and E. 12th Street, and Walnut Avenue from Rosewood Avenue to Hargrave Street. There will be no access to these streets, as they will be closed all day.

Motorists are encouraged to avoid these areas and choose an alternate route while these roads are closed.

Permalink | Categories: Traffic

June 12, 2007

Round Rock to open second phase of A.W. Grimes Blvd.

From the City of Round Rock:

The City of Round Rock will hold a “Golden Spike Driving” instead of a ribbon cutting at 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 13, to celebrate the long-awaited opening of the second phase of A.W. Grimes Boulevard. The theme of the event is “Bridging the Great Divide: Connecting North and South Round Rock.”

Mayor Nyle Maxwell will serve as master of ceremonies. Representatives from the business community, neighborhoods, public safety and public schools will be making brief remarks about the impact the new road will have on Round Rock. A Union Pacific locomotive will be positioned on the railroad bridge over the new road. As the ceremony closes, the train will blow its horn and chug out of town to punctuate the event.

The event recalls the famous golden spike ceremony marking the completion of the First Transcontinental Railroad, when Leland Stanford officially joined the Central Pacific and Union Pacific railroads on May 10, 1869, at Promontory Summit, Utah.

The opening of A. W. Grimes Boulevard will significantly change traffic patterns in east Round Rock because it will be the only major north-south road between Mays Street and Red Bud Lane to cross Brushy Creek as well as have a grade separation with the Union Pacific railroad line that parallels U.S. 79.

A.W. Grimes Boulevard will also provide motorists with an alternative to IH-35 between Pflugerville and Round Rock by connecting to Grand Avenue Parkway on the south and FM 1460 to the north.

Permalink | Categories: Traffic

May 30, 2007

Police announce biker parade route, street closures

The Austin Police Department Special Events Unit has announced the parade route and road closures for the Republic of Texas Rally (ROT) scheduled Thursday, May 31st through Sunday, June 3rd.

On Friday, June 1st, the motorcycle parade will leave the Travis County Exposition Center on Decker Lane beginning at 7:30 p.m. APD will lead the parade that will proceed on the following route:

South on Decker Lane to Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard (FM 969)

West on Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard to Webberville Road

South on Webberville Road to Springdale Road

South on Springdale Road to Oak Springs Drive

West on Oak Springs Drive to Rosewood Avenue to 11th Street at Congress Avenue

Motorcyclists will travel southbound on Congress Avenue to park for ROT events scheduled for Friday evening. Congress Avenue will be closed between 11th Street and 2nd Street from 6:00 p.m. on Friday, June 1st to 3:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 2nd. The cross streets between Colorado and Brazos streets will be closed. Vehicles parked on Congress Avenue and the cross streets will be towed beginning at 5:00 p.m. on Friday.

Permalink | Categories: Traffic

May 23, 2007

Dedication of Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge to result in closures for downtown commuters May 25

The Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge will be closed from Barton Springs Road to Cesar Chavez Street beginning at 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, May 25, for the unveiling of a plaque honoring former Texas Governor Ann W. Richards.
Northbound Congress Avenue will be detoured to South First Street turning into Lavaca Street. Southbound Congress Avenue will be reduced to one lane starting at Third Street turning traffic east onto Cesar Chavez. Motorists are encouraged to avoid the area during the dedication ceremony, which will begin at 11 a.m. with a march from the south end of the bridge. Following the march, Mayor Will Wynn will serve as the emcee for the ceremony at the north end of the bridge. The bridge will reopen following the dedication ceremony at 1 p.m. For details about the march and dedication ceremony visit www.cityofaustin.org.

Permalink | Categories: Traffic

May 22, 2007

Mesquite Creek Bridge re-opened after creek flooded over the road

The Mesquite Creek Bridge has re-opened after it was damaged by overnight rains Tuesday morning, a Burnet County dispatcher said.

The bridge is on U.S. 183, five miles south of Lampasas. It was shut down for several hours Tuesday and drivers commuting to Austin were asked to take U.S. 281 South to Highway 29 East. Several inches of rain fell in the area overnight.

At around 2 a.m., two people tried to cross a flooded creek near Briggs in Burnet County and their vehicle got stranded in the water, according to Austin/Travis County Emergency Medical Services spokesman Warren Hassinger. They were rescued by Burnet County officials. Their names were not released.

Permalink | Categories: Traffic

May 21, 2007

Interstate 35 frontage road re-opened after morning collision involving 18-wheeler

Police have re-opened the southbound Interstate 35 frontage road and the Howard Lane exit in the 14600 block of North Interstate 35 after they had been closed for three hours.

An 18-wheeler crashed into a retaining wall and spilled diesel fuel from its saddle tank, said Austin Fire Department spokesman Rob Bredahl. Haz mat crews were called to clean up the fuel spill, which was less than 100 gallons, Bredahl said.

No one was injured seriously in the crash, which happened just after 3 a.m. Monday morning near the intersection of Owen Tech Boulevard and Korman Drive near Pflugerville.

Permalink | Categories: Traffic

May 16, 2007

Yager Lane Bridge over I-35 now open

From the Texas Department of Transportation:

TxDOT has replaced the outdated two-lane Yager Lane Bridge over Interstate 35 in Austin with a new six-lane bridge. The Yager Lane Bridge opened to traffic today after a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony. The bridge will align on the west side of the interstate with Yager Lane and on the east side with Tech Ridge and Canyon Ridge Boulevard. Yager Lane Bridge will also have two turnarounds for north- and southbound traffic on the frontage roads. The existing center median lighting will be replaced with seven high mast lights located between the TxDOT right-of-way and frontage roads for the length of the new bridge median. Construction started on Feb. 22, 2006, and the demolition of the old Yager Bridge started approximately three months later on June 5.

“Working over this section of I-35, which carries an average daily traffic count of 75,000 vehicles, is a huge challenge,” says Terry McCoy, TxDOT’s North Travis area engineer. “One of our primary objectives is to manage construction so that it has the least impact on traffic,” he says. When the old Yager Lane Bridge was demolished, engineers kept traffic lane closures to a minimum by moving I-35 traffic to other existing roadways. “We never actually closed the main lanes of I-35 when we demolished the bridge,” McCoy says. “We closed frontage roads and moved the main lanes around so we weren’t working over mainline traffic and used the existing frontage roads as the main lanes.”

The frontage roads are now elevated to the level of the new bridges with the use of retaining walls to limit the amount of additional land needed for the project. “This 11-month project is part of a master development plan that provides residents and businesses in the area better access to I-35,” according to TxDOT District Engineer Bob Daigh.

TxDOT expects the new Tech Ridge / Yager Lane interchange, with the I-35 frontage roads, to be completed and operational by June 2007.

Permalink | Categories: Traffic

May 11, 2007

Father and daughter killed in Thursday vehicle collision

A 35-year-old Thorndale man and his 6-year-old daughter died from their injuries Thursday evening after the car they were traveling in collided head-on with another vehicle on Texas 79 two miles east of Thrall in Williamson County, according to a spokesman for the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Joe Edward Mojica was traveling east on Texas 79 with his daughter, Jeanie Mojica, when his 1993 Honda Accord moved into the westbound lane, officials said. The Accord struck a 2002 GMC Sierra, killing Mojica instantly at around 5 p.m.

The 6-year-old girl, Jeanie Mojica, was taken to Brackenridge Hospital where she later died from her injuries.

The driver of the GMC, Garland Eugene Miller, 49, of Elgin, was taken to Brackenridge Hospital with minor injuries, according to a DPS dispatcher. The passenger in his car, Richard Perkins, also had minor injuries.

As of 6:30 a.m., Miller was listed in stable condition at Brackenridge. Perkins’ condition was not immediately known Friday morning. Everyone involved in the accident was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the collision, the dispatcher said.

Permalink | Categories: Traffic

May 9, 2007

Construction closures Friday involving U.S. 79

Eastbound US 79 will be reduced to one lane between FM 1660 North and FM 1660 South from 9:00 AM until 4:00 PM Friday. All lanes of FM 1660 South will be closed at the railroad tracks just south of US 79. Traffic needing to access FM 1660 South will be detoured to Jim Cage Lane, and Austin Avenue.

One-way traffic control will be in effect between Austin Avenue and County Road 137. Flaggers will direct traffic.

The closures are associated with milling and paving operations by the Texas Department of Transportation.

— From the Texas Department of Transportation

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Two Fort Hood soldiers seriously injured in morning traffic accident

Two Fort Hood soldiers are being treated at Scott and White Regional Hospital in Temple after they were seriously injured in a traffic accident that happened on West Range Road in Fort Hood, a spokesman said this morning.

The names of the soldiers have not been released and their conditions were not immediately known.

Twenty-four soldiers had been travelling in a Light Medium Tactical Vehicle like this one when the accident happened. Investigators have not released more details about the accident or what caused it.

Permalink | Categories: Traffic

May 7, 2007

One dead, two injured in Bastrop County traffic wreck

One person was killed and two others were seriously injured in a traffic wreck near the intersection of Texas 95 and Jordan Lane southeast of Elgin this morning, according to the Austin/Travis County Emergency Medical Services.

EMS said the person who was killed had died at the scene and two people were taken to Brackenridge Hospital with serious injuries.

A dispatcher at the Bastrop County sheriff’s office said no other information about the accident was immediately available.

Permalink | Categories: Traffic

May 2, 2007

TxDOT to add guardrail at Windsor Road exit

From the Texas Department of Transportation:

What: Beginning next week, TxDOT work crews will add a new guardrail and energy absorption system at the Windsor Road exit on Southbound Mopac. Beginning Monday, May 7, 2007, TxDOT will close the Windsor exit ramp after the morning commute and reopen the exit in time for the evening commute. The daytime closures will allow construction crews to build a concrete base for the new guardrail. Weather permitting; the base construction should take two days. On day three, the new guardrail system will be installed on the new base.

When: Monday and Tuesday, May 7th and 8th, 2007, daytime exit closure for prep-work Wednesday, May 9th, 2007, daytime exit closure to install guardrail system.

Where: The Windsor Road Exit ramp on Southbound Mopac at the Windsor Road/Mopac Interchange.

TxDOT will use portable message boards to warn of possible delays and direct commuters to the Enfield exit south of Windsor Road. Motorists can exit Enfield and circle back to access the Windsor Road area.

Permalink | Categories: Traffic

April 30, 2007

Traffic fatality shuts down 2222 near 620

A fatal collision this morning around 7 a.m. has shut down a part of RM 2222 near RM 620. No other information about the incident was immediately available.

The intersection of RM 2222 and McNeil Drive is also closed. Drivers are being asked to avoid the area this morning if possible. Check back with Statesman.com for more details.

Permalink | Categories: Traffic

April 10, 2007

Collision shuts down part of Cesar Chavez

An eastbound lane of Cesar Chavez is shut down this morning after a minor-injury collision in the 1100 block of West Cesar Chavez Street that happened at around 5:45 a.m., according to police. The lane was shut down at around 7 a.m.

Check back with Statesman.com for updates.

Permalink | Categories: Traffic

April 4, 2007

Expect traffic delays during Texas Relays

Motorists in Austin should expect significant delays on Interstate 35 this weekend. The Texas Relays, sponsored by the University of Texas, will result in changes to normal downtown traffic. According to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), the following modifications will be in effect Friday and Saturday nights:

• The southbound MLK/15th St. exit ramp will be closed.
• The southbound exit ramp to 12th and 11th Sts. will be closed.
• The southbound exit ramp to 6th to 8th Sts. will be closed. • The southbound exit to 1st St. will be closed.
• The northbound 6th Street exit ramp will be closed.
• The south to north turnaround at 5th St. will be closed.

According to TxDOT, all closures are scheduled to be in effect between 8:00 PM and 6:00 AM Friday and Saturday nights. However, if traffic conditions warrant, the closures could be in place by 7:00 PM Saturday.

The Texas Relays and related entertainment events result in thousands of vehicles converging on the downtown area throughout the weekend. The closures are designed to minimize disruptions on the Interstate main lanes, as those attending the Texas Relays use the access roads to reach the downtown area. TxDOT is coordinating this traffic control effort with the Austin Police Department and the University of Texas.

Permalink | Categories: Traffic

April 3, 2007

U.S. 183-A lane closures

The FM 1431 entrance ramps, both immediately north and south of FM 1431, onto southbound 183A will be closed nightly from 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. on April 3, April 4 and April 5. Southbound motorists will be required to detour to US 183 in this area.

The southbound ramp plaza at Brushy Creek Road and 183A will be closed nightly from 9 p.m. on until 5 a.m. on April 3, April 4 and April 5.

If you have questions or need additional information related to these closures, please contact Jason Estes at 528-2558 or (cell) 844-9707.

Permalink | Categories: Traffic

March 30, 2007

Traffic enforcement locations, April 2-6

A news release from the Austin Police Department:

Traffic safety is a major focus of the Austin Police Department and a substantial amount of resources is committed to traffic safety improvements and traffic enforcement. Traffic enforcement is a primary function of APD motor units and one of the main functions of patrol officers. In addition, APD schedules officers each week on overtime, funded by grants, to enforce traffic laws. The goal of traffic enforcement is to increase citizen’s voluntary compliance with traffic laws.

Monday, April 2nd

Morning, 900 block of Springdale Road

Morning, 3400 block of Highway 183 South

Afternoon, 2300 block of Scofield Ridge Parkway

Morning, 1500 block of Rio Grande Street

Morning, Slaughter Lane

Tuesday, April 3rd

Morning, LaCrosse Avenue at Dahlgreen Avenue

Afternoon, 7200 block of South First Street

Morning, 7500 block of Hart Lane

Morning, 800 to 1000 blocks of West Cesar Chavez Street

Afternoon, 6900 to 7400 blocks of Cameron Road

Wednesday, April 4th

Afternoon, 12300 block of Highway 183 North

Morning, 2400 to 2500 blocks of Red River Street

Morning, 7400 block of Loyola Lane

Afternoon, Dessau Road and Braker Lane

Morning, Barton Springs Road

Thursday, April 5th

Morning, 1800 block of West 5th Street

Afternoon, Mopac South

Morning , 100 to 5100 blocks of I-35 North

Morning, 9400 block of Great Hills Trail

Afternoon, Parmer Lane and I-35 North

Friday, April 6th

Morning, Brodie Lane

Afternoon, 4000 block of Duval Road

Morning, 400 block of Pleasant Valley Road

Morning, 700 block of West Slaughter Lane

Afternoon, 8000 to 9500 blocks of Highway 290 East

Traffic Tip: Simple actions that can prevent injuries and death: buckle up every time; use your turn signal; adjust your speed to the conditions of the forward and weather; and never drink and drive.

Permalink | Categories: Traffic

Hays County road closures

The Hays County Road Department and the Hays County Office of Emergency Management have identified the following road closures as of 1:20pm on 3-30-07.

DRIPPING SPRINGS

HWY 290 at Bell Srpings Road

HWY 290 at Rainwater

HWY 290 at Farrell Lane

Creek Road at Onion Creek

Pursley Road and Creek Road

Elder Hill at 2nd low water crossing

McGregor at low water crossing

4300 block of Bell Springs

Barton Creek at Trautwein

Little Barton at E. Fitzhugh

Bear Creek at low water crossing

WIMBERLEY

Blanco Creek at FM 2325

Montel Road Bridge in Hill County Ranches damaged

The Hays County Road Department and the Hays County Sheriff’s Office continue to monitor low water areas and as closures are determined they will be placed on the Hays County website.

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March 29, 2007

183A Toll Road lane closures notice

The FM 1431 entrance ramps, both immediately north and south of FM 1431, onto southbound 183A will be closed from 9 p.m. on Thursday, March 29 until 5 a.m. on Friday, March 30. Southbound motorists will be required to detour to US 183 in this area.

Permalink | Categories: Traffic

Fatal overnight accident on South Congress Avenue

A man in his early 20s crashed the Ford Expedition he was driving into a light pole in the 2200 block of South Congress Avenue near Live Oak Street at around 2:30 this morning, police said.

Austin Police Department spokeswoman Toni Chovanetz said the man was driving at a high rate of speed and failed to negotiate a curve when the Expedition hit a pole, flipped over once and ejected the driver. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

His name has not been released pending the notification of his family members. Chovanetz said the man was the sole occupant of the car.

This is the city’s 18th traffic fatality in 2007 and the second in two days. Yesterday, a pedestrian died after he was struck by a minivan in the 7000 block of East Riverside Drive.

Anyone with information about this morning’s accident can call Vehicular Homicide detectives at 974-8212.

Permalink | Categories: Traffic

March 28, 2007

Fatal wreck on East Riverside Drive

An 88-year-old man was struck and killed this morning while trying to cross a street in Southeast Austin.

Jose Fidel Navarro was trying to cross Riverside Drive near Yellow Jacket Lane around 7:30 a.m. when he was hit by an eastbound Chevrolet minivan, police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Navarro was crossing south to north when he was hit, police said. The driver remained at the scene.

The case is being investigated by vehicular homicide detectives. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call 974-8212. It was the 17th traffic fatality in 2007.

East Riverside Drive re-opened around 10:15 a.m. after it was closed in all directions between the 6900 block and the 7200 block for almost three hours.

Permalink | Categories: Traffic

March 27, 2007

Man killed in I-35 traffic accident

Case: 07-0860943

Date: Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Time: 1:27 p.m.

Location: 12400 block of South I-35, southbound

Deceased: Male, 52

It is believed that a Ford Mustang was traveling southbound on South I-35. For unknown reasons, the driver made an unsafe movement to the left in the 12400 block of I-35 South and traveled into the center grass median between the northbound and southbound lanes. The vehicle traveled a short distance, entered the southbound lanes, crossed all lanes of traffic and crashed into the grass median between the southbound lanes and the southbound frontage road.

The driver of the Mustang was transported to South Austin Hospital with life-threatening injuries. He was pronounced dead a short time later.

This case remains under investigation by Vehicular Homicide detectives. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Vehicular Homicide detectives at 974-8212. This is the 16th traffic fatality in 2007.

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March 15, 2007

New Braunfels woman dies in wreck

A 40-year-old woman was killed early this morning in New Braunfels after the sport-utility vehicle she was driving struck a utility pole. Manuela Decker of New Braunfels was killed on impact, New Braunfels police said.

Decker was driving south on the Interstate 35 frontage road near the 800 block of Business 35 North at about 1:15 a.m. when she failed to negotiate a curve, police said. Her SUV jumped the curb, and the driver’s side door hit the utility pole, police said.

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March 14, 2007

Opening of Texas 130-U.S. 290 connector is postponed

Due to poor weather conditions this week, TxDOT will open the direct connector from eastbound US 290 to northbound SH 130 on Sunday, March 18, 2007. The postponement is necessary to allow work crews to finish the new ramp. The new direct connector will allow drivers traveling east on US 290 to access northbound SH 130 without having to go through the SH 130/US 290 intersection, avoiding lights at Decker Lane, US 290, and Parmer Lane.

The SH 130/US 290 direct connector is the longest bridge on the SH 130 project, measuring just 13 feet short of 1 mile. The SH 130/US 290 direct connector bridge is supported by concrete beams and steel-plate girders. There are two steel girder units, a 4-span unit at 808 feet long and a 3-span unit at 757 feet long. The steel girders are just over 8’ deep and the longest girder is 230’.

Message boards will be posted letting motorists know when the SH 130/US 290 direct connectors are open on Sunday.

Permalink | Categories: Traffic

March 13, 2007

Texas 130/U.S. 290 ramp to open

What: Opening of SH 130/US 290 Direct Connectors

When: March 15, 2007

Time: Afternoon, weather permitting

Project Description: The opening of the direct connectors will allow drivers traveling east on US 290 to access northbound SH 130 without having to go through the SH 130/US 290 intersection, avoiding lights at Decker Lane, US 290, and Parmer Lane.

Central Texas Turnpike System: SH 130 is part of the CTTS, with more than 40 miles of the 65-mile toll system already open to traffic. The portion of SH 130 between US 290 and SH 71 is scheduled for completion by September 2007. SH 130 between SH 71 and US 183 near Mustang Ridge is scheduled for completion by December 2007. Customers traveling on the CTTS can pay their tolls with TxTag, which is the most frequently used payment option. Cash or bill by mail are two other payment options.

— From the Texas Department of Transportation

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March 12, 2007

Updated Williamson County road closures

WILLIAMSON COUNTY ROADS CLOSED DUE TO HIGH WATER

The Williamson County Unified Road System announces the following roads are closed due to high water as of 11:30 a.m. today. or updated road closure information, check the county Web site at www.wilcogov.org.

West of Interstate 35: 226, 305, 268, 269, 177, 179, 272, low water crossing in Brushy Creek Subdivision off of 174, 143, 251, 220, 239 @ Espinoza Stone

East of Interstate 35: 366, 100 (Big and Little Mankins), 123, 471, 351, 350, 363, 152, 398, 382, 348, 300, 336, 333, 337

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Wreck closes lanes of I-35 southbound near Waco

From the Department of Public Safety:

A traffic crash south of Waco will have lanes of southbound IH-35 closed at various times Monday morning.

An 18-wheeler has overturned in the barditch near milemarker #329 (between the City of Hewitt and Loop 340). At least one lane of IH-35 will be closed as the materials from the 18-wheeler are removed from the truck.

Once the truck is emptied, all lanes of southbound IH-35 will be closed while the truck is uprighted.

Travelers are urged to find an alternate route to their destinations south of Waco.

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March 9, 2007

APD traffic enforcement

The Austin Police Department has issued the following news release:

Traffic safety is a major focus of the Austin Police Department and a substantial amount of resources is committed to traffic safety improvements and traffic enforcement. Traffic enforcement is a primary function of APD motor units and one of the main functions of patrol officers. In addition, APD schedules officers each week on overtime, funded by grants, to enforce traffic laws. The goal of traffic enforcement is to increase citizen’s voluntary compliance with traffic laws.

Monday, March 12th

Afternoon 2000 block of South Congress Avenue, Morning 900 block of Springdale Road, Afternoon 13800 block of Highway 183 North, Morning Lake Austin Boulevard Morning 1500 block of Rio Grande Street

Tuesday, March 13th
Morning 7200 block of South First Street, Afternoon Dessau Road and Parmer Lane, Morning I-35 from Town Lake from Braker Lane, Morning 2600 block of East Martin Luther King Boulevard, Afternoon Slaughter Lane

Wednesday, March 14th Morning Eskew Drive, Afternoon 12300 block of Riata Vista, Morning 700 block of West Stassney Lane, Afternoon 1800 to 3300 blocks of Burleson Road, Morning Mopac from Town Lake to Highway 183

Thursday, March 15th Afternoon 700 to 1400 blocks of St. John’s Avenue, Morning 1800 block of West 5th Street, Afternoon East William Cannon Drive, Morning East Riverside Drive and I-35 South, Morning Parkfield Drive from Braker lane to Mearns Meadow Boulevard

Friday, March 16th Afternoon 8500 block of Spicewood Springs Road, Morning South First Street, Morning 7400 block of Loyola Lane, Afternoon I-35 North and Wells Branch Parkway, Morning 1700 block of West Cesar Chavez Street

Traffic Tip: Most of the traffic deaths in the 15 to 20 year age group are young drivers or their passengers. Wearing a seatbelt can drastically decrease the chance of injury or death. Buckle up in every vehicle, every time.

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March 7, 2007

Sixth Street exit at Interstate 35 still closed after overnight fuel spill

Police said this morning that the overnight malfunction of a construction truck caused this morning’s fuel spill on the upper deck of Interstate 35, which has led authorities to close the Sixth Street exit until further notice.

Drivers are asked to take the 12th Street exit if they are traveling south of the University of Texas exit.

Check back soon for more updates on Statesman.com

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March 6, 2007

Eastbound and westbound lanes of West Parmer Lane shutdown

Officials have shut down eastbound and westbound lanes of West Parmer Lane north of FM 620 after a gas line was hit by workers during construction.

Drivers should avoid the area until the gas line is repaired.

The incident happened around 11 a.m.

Eastbound Parmer Lane is shutdown at Avery Ranch Boulevard and westbound Parmer Lane is shutdown at Neenah Avenue.

UPDATE: Parmer Lane was reopened by 1:30 p.m.

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March 4, 2007

Accident causing delays on I-35

The two left northbound lanes of 3000 S. Interstate 35 are shut down because of a collision.

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February 28, 2007

Rollover wreck no longer blocking Interstate 35

The northbound lanes of Interstate 35 near Onion Creek Parkway were re-opened at 10 a.m. after a tractor trailer rolled over and caused trafffic to be backed up past Buda for almost 3 hours. The accident happened at 7:15 a.m., according to the Austin Police Department. Check here for traffic updates.

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February 27, 2007

DPS investigating traffic fatality near Lakeline Mall

Traffic delays are expected to continue this morning near Lakeline Mall as Department of Public Safety officials investigate a traffic fatality that happened near the intersection of FM 620 and Anderson Mill Road.

Officials say the accident happened at around 6 a.m. No other information was available as of 6:45 a.m.

Check back at Statesman.com for updates.

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February 15, 2007

One person killed in accident on I-35

One person was killed this morning in an accident on Interstate 35 near 15th Street, police said.

Interstate 35 southbound near 15th Street and two northbound lanes have been closed because of the collision.

Authorities said the accident involves two 18-wheelers and have received reports of injuries.

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February 12, 2007

I-35 southbound closing tonight at 10

The following is a news release from the Texas Dept. of Transportation.

• All southbound lanes will be closed at RM 1431/Chandler Rd from 10:00 PM Tuesday until 6:00 AM Wednesday.

• The RM 1431 bridge over Interstate 35 will be closed from 10:00 PM Tuesday until 6:00 AM Wednesday to all traffic except emergency vehicles.

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Collision on Interstate 35 may slow rush hour commute

An early-morning collision involving an 18-wheeler closed down two inside lanes of northbound Interstate 35 this morning, and one lane will remain closed for another 2 hours while Texas Department of Transportation crews fix barriers in the area, police say.

No injuries were reported, according to EMS officials.

The collision happened at around 4 a.m. in North Austin near VFW Road. Commuters should expect traffic delays due to the closure this morning.

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January 13, 2007

Hays county road closure update

A news release from Hays County public officials:

CURRENT CHANGES: ALL OF RR 12, HILLIARD RD, YARRINGTON RD , HUNTER RD, MCCARTY LN, HARRIS HILL RD, LIME KILN RD & GOFORTH RD ARE NOW OPEN

AT THIS TIME MOST HAYS COUNTY ROADS ARE OPEN - ONLY THE FOLLOWING REMAIN CLOSED

CLOSUERS SAN MARCOS

MILLER LAKE (IN THE KB HOMES SUB OFF REDWOOD RD)

KYLE CR 158 DACY LN DAIRY RD BUDA SATTERWHITE RD

WIMBERLEY LITTLE ARKANSAS FULTON RANCH RD

DRIFTWOOD

FM 1826 @ BEAR CREEK PASS LOW WATER XING

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January 12, 2007

APD traffic enforcement

The Austin Police Department has issued the following news release:

Traffic safety is a major focus of the Austin Police Department and a substantial amount of resources is committed to traffic safety improvements and traffic enforcement. Traffic enforcement is a primary function of APD motor units and one of the main functions of patrol officers. In addition, APD schedules officers each week on overtime, funded by grants, to enforce traffic laws. The goal of traffic enforcement is to increase citizen’s voluntary compliance with traffic laws.

Monday, January 15th
Morning West Slaughter Lane Morning 2400 to 2500 blocks of Red River Street Morning FM 2222

Tuesday, January 16th Afternoon South Mopac Morning North MoPac at Town Lake to Far West Blvd. Morning 2300 block of East William Cannon Drive Afternoon 2300 block of Scofield Ridge Parkway

Wednesday, January 17th Morning North Lamar Blvd. Afternoon 10300 block of I-35 South Morning 1500 to 4500 blocks of East Riverside Drive Morning Ohlen Road between Research Blvd and Burnet Road

Thursday, January 18th Afternoon 1800 to 2200 blocks of East Oltorf Street Afternoon 7600 block of Yaupon Drive Morning 400 block of West Cesar Chavez Street Afternoon Convict Hill Road Morning Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd Morning Parkfield Drive between Braker Lane and Mearns Meadow

Friday, January 19th Morning 5300 block of Parmer Lane Morning 7200 block of East Ben White Boulevard Morning 1800 block of West 5th Street Morning Koenig Lane Morning Kramer Lane between North Lamar Boulevard and Metric Blvd.

Traffic Tip: Slow down! Expect the unexpected by keeping a safe distance between you and the car ahead of you and use your turn indicators.

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December 15, 2006

APD traffic enforcement

The Austin Police Department has issued the following news release:

Traffic safety is a major focus of the Austin Police Department and a substantial amount of resources is committed to traffic safety improvements and traffic enforcement. Traffic enforcement is a primary function of APD motor units and one of the main functions of patrol officers. In addition, APD schedules officers each week on overtime, funded by grants, to enforce traffic laws. The goal of traffic enforcement is to increase citizen’s voluntary compliance with traffic laws.

Monday, December 18th
Morning 900 block of Springdale Road Morning 10500 block of South First Street Afternoon Barton Springs Road Morning 8500 block of Mesa Drive Morning 2400 to 2500 blocks of Red River Street Tuesday, December 19th
Afternoon 4000 block of Duval Road Morning South Pleasant Valley Road from Oltorf Street to Riverside Drive Morning 2600 East Martin Luther King Boulevard Morning 2300 block of East William Cannon Drive Morning Manchaca Road Wednesday, December 20th
Morning South Lamar Boulevard Afternoon 10300 block of I-35 South
Morning 400 block of Pleasant Valley Road Morning 12200 block of Amherst Drive Afternoon 1000 to 4000 blocks of I-35 South Thursday, December 21st Morning 400 block of West Cesar Chavez Street Morning Slaughter Lane Morning I-35 and East Riverside Drive Afternoon 100 to 5100 blocks of I-35 North
Afternoon 11500 block of Boulder Lane Friday, December 22nd Morning 7200 block of East Ben White Boulevard Morning 11500 block of Spicewood Parkway Afternoon Davis Lane Morning 7400 block of Loyola Lane Morning 1800 block of West 5th Street

Traffic Tip: If your vehicle breaks down or you are involved in a minor collision, move your vehicle as far off the roadway as possible so that your vehicle is away from traffic. This can prevent secondary collisions and allow you to call for assistance safely.

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December 14, 2006

I-35 wrecks, reckless drivers snarl Round Rock's Wednesday morning commute

From the Round Rock Police Department:

I-35 wrecks, reckless drivers snarl Round Rock’s Wednesday morning commute

Round Rock police arrested two drivers early Wednesday morning during a series of related incidents that tied up Interstate 35 traffic for several hours.

Anne Elizabeth Pfertner, 23, of Georgetown was charged with Driving While Intoxicated and marijuana possession after a 4:30 a.m. incident in which she drove her 2004 Volkswagen through the guardrail and over the edge of the Hesters Crossing overpass at the northbound I-35 frontage road. Pfertner’s car came to rest atop the bridge abutment next to the highway’s main northbound lanes. She was not injured.

As a tow truck operator was removing Pfertner’s vehicle from the concrete abutment, a woman driving a 2003 Hyundai north on I-35 collided with the tow truck. The unidentified woman was treated by EMS at the scene. A police report cited “driver inattention” as the cause of the wreck. The wrecker driver was not injured.

Lance Alan Mann, 55, of Round Rock was arrested at about 6:30 a.m. and charged with reckless driving, unlawful carrying of a weapon and possession of a controlled substance. According to a number of witnesses, including emergency workers, Mann was driving a 2004 Mercury north on I-35 through the accident scenes, nearly striking two police officers and their vehicles while disregarding the officers’ directions, then nearly striking another vehicle at the Round Rock Ave. exit.

According to an arrest affidavit, Mann initially refused to yield to the lights and siren of an officer’s patrol car as the officer tried to stop him. Mann then accelerated across two lanes of traffic, spinning his tires before sliding to a stop. Witnesses reported that Mann was yelling obscenities at the officer, blaming police for the traffic delays because he was in a hurry to get home.

Arresting officers found an illegal club and a quantity of controlled medications - for which Mann had no prescription - in Mann’s car.

Reckless driving is punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a $200 fine. The drug and weapon offenses are both misdemeanors that carry penalties of up to a year in jail and a $4,000 fine.

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November 30, 2006

Commuters deal with heavier traffic today

Traffic around the area is slower this morning due to bad weather, officials are reporting, which means that drivers should be patient during the slow crawl into work.

“In general, when it rains or the weather gets bad, traffic does get worse because people go a little slower and visibility is not as good,” said Cpl. Derek Israel, a spokesman for the Austin Police Department.

Underneath Interstate 35 northbound under the Riverside Drive bridge, a clogged storm drain has produced water over the road and one lane is shut down. Drivers should bear in mind that there will be delays in that area, Israel said. There were no reported increases in traffic crashes this morning, he said.

He advised that drivers give themselves plenty of time before heading out this morning.

Click here for traffic updates.

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November 9, 2006

Cedar Park Weekend Road Closure

The city of Cedar Park released this advisory:

A portion of FM 2769 / Volente Road east of Dies Ranch Road will be closed to traffic beginning Saturday, Nov. 18 through Sunday, November 19. The closure is necessary to complete the final connection of FM 2769 to the Anderson Mill Road South extension project.

Vehicles traveling west from RM 620 desiring to go to Volente, Bullick Hollow Road or the Bella Vista Subdivision via Dies Ranch Road will be required to detour north from FM 2769 up the new northern section of the Anderson Mill Road project. Vehicles will then need to turn left onto Dies Ranch Road, then to FM 2769 for continuation to the west. Traveling from Volente or Bullick Hollow Road heading east to 620, vehicles must turn left on Dies Ranch Road and follow it to Anderson Mill Road. Once at Anderson Mill Road, take a right onto the new section of the road to reconnect with FM 2769.

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Traffic enforcement locations

A news release from the Austin Police Department:

Traffic safety is a major focus of the Austin Police Department and a substantial amount of resources is committed to traffic safety improvements and traffic enforcement. Traffic enforcement is a primary function of APD motor units and one of the main functions of patrol officers. In addition, APD schedules officers each week on overtime, funded by grants, to enforce traffic laws. The goal of traffic enforcement is to increase citizen’s voluntary compliance with traffic laws.

Monday, November 13th

Morning. 2400 to 2500 blocks of Red River Street

Morning. 10,500 block of South First Street

Morning. 2200 to 2400 blocks of South Pleasant Valley Road

Morning. Manchaca Road

Tuesday, November 14th

Afternoon. Mopac South

Morning. 13,800 block of FM 620 North

Morning. 1700 block of West Cesar Chavez Street

Morning. 2300 block of East William Cannon Drive

Afternoon. 1500 to 2000 blocks of East Riverside Drive

Wednesday, November 15th

Afternoon. 10,300 block of I-35 South

Morning. 400 block of Pleasant Valley Road

Morning. Barton Springs Road

Morning. Highway 71 East

Morning. 11,500 block of Scotland Well Drive

Thursday, November 16th

Afternoon. 700 to 1400 blocks of East St. John’s Avenue

Afternoon. 1000 to 2000 blocks of South Congress Avenue

Morning. 6000 block of FM 2222

Afternoon. Westgate Boulevard

Afternoon. 100 to 4500 blocks of Airport Boulevard

Friday, November 17th

Morning. 1800 block of West 5th Street

Afternoon. 12,300 block of Metric Boulevard

Morning. 7400 block of Loyola Lane

Afternoon. 7800 to 9500 blocks of I-35 North

Morning. 7200 block of East Ben White Boulevard

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November 7, 2006

Driver rescued after jack-knifed cab crashes over barrier

The driver of a semi-tractor trailer was rescued from his cab after his truck jack-knifed on I-35 at the San Marcos River bridge around 11:25 a.m. Tuesday and the cab crashed over a concrete barrier and became suspended between the highway and west frontage road.

The truck driver and the passenger of a car involved in the wreck were taken to Central Texas Medical Center with unknown injuries. Identities of those involved in the wreck are not available.

According to police, the crash occurred when the driver of the empty gravel truck was entering I-35 just south of Highway 80 when he clipped a Ford Explorer traveling in the center lane.

The truck driver pulled to the right and his truck struck the guard rail, jack-knifing over the concrete crash barrier.

San Marcos Fire Rescue used a ladder truck to rescue the driver from the cab about 12:45 p.m.

At 1:45 p.m. Tuesday, southbound traffic began moving along the west access road as emergency workers continued to clean up the scene.

The wreck snarled traffic for more than two hours on I-35 Tuesday. The southbound lane of I-35 reopened shortly after 2 p.m.

— City of San Marcos

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October 27, 2006

Traffic enforcement locations for Oct. 30-Nov. 3

A news release from the Austin Police Department:

Traffic safety is a major focus of the Austin Police Department and a substantial amount of resources is committed to traffic safety improvements and traffic enforcement. Traffic enforcement is a primary function of APD motor units and one of the main functions of patrol officers. In addition, APD schedules officers each week on overtime, funded by grants, to enforce traffic laws. The goal of traffic enforcement is to increase citizen’s voluntary compliance with traffic laws.

Monday, October 30th

Morning, Manchaca Road

Afternoon, 100 to 1000 blocks of East Riverside Drive

Morning, Steck Avenue from Mopac to Burnet Road

Morning, Lake Austin Boulevard

Afternoon, 7200 block of South First Street

Tuesday, October 31st

Afternoon, 6900 to 7400 blocks of Cameron Road

Morning, Convict Hill Road

Afternoon, East Riverside Drive and I-35 South

Morning, Lamar Boulevard

Morning, 10,300 block of I-35 South

Wednesday, November 1st

Morning, Mopac from Town Lake to Highway 183

Afternoon, 100 to 4400 blocks of Airport Boulevard

Morning, 2400 to 2500 blocks of Red River Street

Afternoon, 700 block of West Stassney Lane

Afternoon, Dessau Road and Braker Lane

Thursday, November 2nd

Morning, 1800 block of West 5th Street

Morning, 900 block of Springdale Road

Afternoon, Parmer Lane and I-35 North

Morning, South Mopac

Afternoon, Westgate Boulevard

Friday, November 3rd

Morning, 1600 block of Rosewood Avenue

Morning, Koenig Lane

Morning, 1700 block of West Cesar Chavez Street

Morning, Brodie Lane

Afternoon, 7200 block of East Ben White Boulevard

Traffic Tip: Do not leave the scene of a collision. Texas law requires you to stop and exchange information. If there are injuries, if there is a DWI, if a driver has no insurance or if the property damage exceeds $500, then police should be notified. The penalty for leaving the scene of a collision is a fine not to exceed $5000 and up to five years in jail.

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Red Bud Lane at U.S. 79 to close overnight on Monday, Oct. 30,

A news release from the City of Roundrock

Red Bud Lane at U.S. 79 to close overnight Monday, Oct. 30, for bridge work

There will be a road closure on Red Bud Lane (County Road 122) immediately south of U.S. 79 in Round Rock from midnight Monday, Oct. 30, until 5:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 31, for construction of a new bridge over Brushy Creek.

The current schedule is to close Red Bud Lane at U.S. 79 and at CR 123. This will allow the contractor to place the beams across Brushy Creek from the existing bridge. We are expecting the work to take about three hours. The roadway will be open by 5:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 31.

The work is being done overnight to minimize the impact on the driving public.

The City of Round Rock is building a new, three-lane structure east of the existing bridge. When the new bridge opens, the existing bridge will be demolished and construction will begin on a new two-lane structure. The ultimate, five-lane bridge will improve traffic flows at the busy U.S. 79-Red Bud Lane intersection.

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October 25, 2006

TxDOT moves up closure of McNeil Road exit to this afternoon

From the Texas Department of Transportation:

 AUSTIN –The Texas Department of Transportation has moved up the scheduled closure of the northbound McNeil Rd Exit (#252) to this afternoon as part of a plan to deal with heavy traffic along the access road at Hester’s Crossing. The ramp will be closed permanently before afternoon rush hour traffic today.

State engineers and the City of Round Rock agreed to the closure as part of a plan to ease congestion at Hester’s Crossing/South Mays Street. State workers will be prepared to control traffic signals manually at the intersection to ease the backlog of motorists expected between 4:00 and 6:00 P.M. The action will allow more traffic to proceed up the access road to the next northbound entrance ramp just south of McNeil Rd. The state had scheduled closing the exit after 8:00 P.M., however, traffic engineers determined that the increased traffic flow required closing the McNeil Rd exit earlier to reduce the risk of accidents.

Mc Neil Rd traffic can use Exit 251 to reach the access road south of Hester’s Crossing.

TxDOT is closing four ramps near the State Highway 45 and Interstate Highway 35 interchange in preparation for the opening of new ramps connecting the interstate to SH 45. The SH 45 direct connectors should be completed in time for State Highway 130 and SH 45 to open just before November 1, 2006.

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October 20, 2006

Traffic enforcement, Oct. 23-27

A news release from the Austin Police Department:

Traffic safety is a major focus of the Austin Police Department and a substantial amount of resources is committed to traffic safety improvements and traffic enforcement. Traffic enforcement is a primary function of APD motor units and one of the main functions of patrol officers. In addition, APD schedules officers each week on overtime, funded by grants, to enforce traffic laws. The goal of traffic enforcement is to increase citizen’s voluntary compliance with traffic laws.

Monday, October 23rd

Morning, 5300 block of Parmer Lane

Morning, 1800 to 2200 blocks of East Oltorf Street

Morning, 10,300 block of I-35 South

Morning, Davis Lane

Morning, 4000 block of East 12th Street,

Tuesday, October 24th

Morning, 1500 block of Rio Grande Street

Morning, 4700 block of East William Cannon Drive

Morning, Mopac from Town Lake to Far West Boulevard

Morning, 7500 block of FM 2222

Morning, Highway 290 West

Wednesday, October 25th

Afternoon, 1800 to 2500 blocks of South Lakeshore Boulevard

Morning, North Lamar Boulevard

Afternoon, 12,300 block of Research Boulevard

Morning, 1900 to 2300 blocks of Red River Street

Morning, 7200 block of South First Street

Thursday, October 26th

Afternoon, East Ben White Boulevard and Burleson Road

Morning, Airport Boulevard

Afternoon, 6100 to 7400 blocks of East Ben White Boulevard

Morning, 3800 to 5100 blocks of I-35 North

Morning, 800 to 1000 blocks of West Cesar Chavez Street

Friday, October 27th

Morning, Riverside Drive and Dawson Road

Morning, 900 block of Shady Lane

Morning, 12,300 block of Riata Trace Parkway

Afternoon, 5300 block of Emerald Forest Drive

Morning, 1500 to 1800 blocks of West 6th Street

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October 13, 2006

Traffic enforcement locations for next week

A news release from the Austin Police Department:

Traffic safety is a major focus of the Austin Police Department and a substantial amount of resources is committed to traffic safety improvements and traffic enforcement. Traffic enforcement is a primary function of APD motor units and one of the main functions of patrol officers. In addition, APD schedules officers each week on overtime, funded by grants, to enforce traffic laws. The goal of traffic enforcement is to increase citizen’s voluntary compliance with traffic laws.

Monday, October 16th
Morning Slaughter Lane Morning 10,500 block of South First Street Morning 4000 block of Airport Boulevard Morning Lake Austin Boulevard Morning 2200 to 2400 blocks of Town Lake Circle

Tuesday, October 17th Afternoon 900 block of Springdale Road Morning 2100 to 2500 blocks of Elmont Drive Morning 2300 block of East William Cannon Drive Afternoon 12,500 block of Tomanet Trail

Wednesday, October 18th Afternoon 12,500 block of Rampart Street Morning 1900 to 2300 blocks of Red River Street Afternoon 2200 block of South Pleasant Valley Road Morning Barton Springs Road

Thursday, October 19th Morning 400 block of West Cesar Chavez Street Morning I-35 North from Town Lake to Braker Lane Afternoon 4700 block of East William Cannon Drive Afternoon South Mopac

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October 2, 2006

Parts of South C.M. Allen Parkway closed for repair Thursday

The City of San Marcos has issued this news release:

South C.M. Allen Pkwy to Close at Tracks Rail Crossing Repairs Planned Thursday

The 200 and 300 blocks of South C.M. Allen Parkway will be closed at the railroad tracks to all traffic on Thursday, October 5, 2006 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for repair of the railroad crossing.

The City of San Marcos Public Works Department will repair the rough crossing in a joint project with Union Pacific Railroad.

The railroad crew will raise the level of the tracks and the street crew will level the asphalt to the tracks.

People living and working in the area will be allowed access but crossing the tracks will not be possible during the repairs. For more information regarding this street closure, please call 393-8036.

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August 28, 2006

Fatal wreck slows traffic on I-35 frontage road

Police say motorists should expect delays in the area of the 12000 block of North Interstate 35 because of a fatal wreck that happened around noon near Sandpiper and Wren avenues on the southbound frontage road. Officials say the interstate’s main lanes are unaffected and will remain open to traffic.

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August 24, 2006

I-35 crash involves several 18-wheelers

A crash on Interstate 35 in San Marcos involving several 18-wheelers has closed at least one lane of traffic and caused significant delays. The wreck occurred around 10:30 a.m. near Yarrington Road. San Marcos police are investigating and are not yet releasing further details.

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August 11, 2006

I-35 lanes closed near Slaughter Lane

A rush-hour crash this morning has closed all the southbound lanes and the inside northbound lane of Interstate 35 between William Cannon Boulevard and Slaughter Lane.

Travis County EMS spokeswoman Milissa Warren said the call came in around 8 a.m. Two women were taken to Brackenridge Hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Austin Police spokeswoman Toni Chovanetz said the women were traveling in the inside northbound lane on Interstate 35 when a silver 18-wheeler changed into their lane, spinning the car. The 18-wheeler did not stop at the scene.

Check statesman.com/traffic for the latest traffic updates.

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