UT Board OKs $13.5M design contract for highway caps over I-35

Design work will soon be underway to build highway coverings across Interstate 35 near the University of Texas at Austin, following approval from the U.T. System Board of Regents last week.

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Design work will soon be underway to build highway coverings across Interstate 35 near the University of Texas at Austin, following approval from the U.T. System Board of Regents last week.

The board greenlit a $13.5 million contract with the Texas Department of Transportation to cover 30% design work on those highway coverings. It comes alongside the City of Austin's own capped highway efforts amid TxDOT's planned expansion of I-35 between U.S. Hwy. 290 East and State Hwy. 71 and Ben White Boulevard.

For UT's cap and deck designs, the university is eyeing the space on I-35 between East Dean Keeton Street and East 15th Street. Along with initial design work, the contract will cover a feasibility analysis "to facilitate the possible development of one or more caps over I-35 that would improve the connectivity, safety, and accessibility between the institution's east campus and main campus," per board documents.

Last fall, Dan Allen -- executive director of real estate planning and strategy at UT -- told KXAN the capped highway prospect offered possibilities such as parkland as well as a sports and entertainment district.

At the time, preliminary ideas floated including bridging the highway gap between the Darrell K Royal Texas Memorial Stadium and the Moody Center west of I-35 with the Texas Tennis Center, UFCU Disch-Falk Field and the new graduate student housing project east of the highway.

“It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to tie the campus together and bring an incredible amenity to the city, and to our students and alumni,” Allen said in September.