After years of traffic woes and dreaded backups at what locals have dubbed “the Y,” Central Texans are finally getting some relief as the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) hits a major milestone on the Capital City’s Oak Hill Parkway Project.
TxDOT first began construction back in 2021 on the Oak Hill Parkway Project, an estimated $678 million endeavor aimed at reconstructing the intersection of U.S. Highway 290 and State Highway 71, also known as “the Y.” Late last week, state transportation officials unveiled a significant achievement had been made in the project, which is expected to wrap up work sometime in mid 2026.
“For the first time, westbound US 290 traffic can now travel from downtown Austin to Dripping Springs without stopping at a light!” TxDOT officials shared on the project’s social media account on Friday, April 17.
The area is a critical east-west connection point between the city of Austin and its neighboring suburb to the southwest, Dripping Springs. The full scope of the project includes two to three non-stop U.S. Highway 290 main lanes traveling in each direction alongside two to three frontage road lanes traveling both ways, as well as an overpass for U.S. Highway 290 main lanes to travel over William Cannon Drive.
Other elements include new intersections built at U.S. Highway 290 and Convict Hill Road, RM 1826, Scenic Brook Drive and Circle Drive. TxDOT is also ramping up its pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure along the project corridor and adding new landscaping and trees.
The latest updates on project-related lane closures and overnight construction work are available online.