As the Texas Department of Transportation gears up to launch the Capital Express Central Project in Austin, more than 100 properties along I-35 brace for demolition by the end of this summer. The project aims to expand an 8-mile stretch of the interstate, from State Highway 71 to U.S. 290, including the addition of lanes and pedestrian paths, as reported by CultureMap Austin.
Local establishments such as Stars Café and Escuelita Del Alma daycare are among those having to relocate or shut down. The objective is to breathe new life into the aging infrastructure of the growing city, although not all business owners are happy to move. Elizabeth Trenga, an Austin resident, lamented the challenge of finding a new daycare, stating, "Austin is growing, and there needs to be some infrastructure investment and development," she told CultureMap Austin. "But I think it could be done with a bit more care and more of a long-term vision."
Jimmy's Barbershop, which will also be impacted by the construction, has been in business for 13 years. Initial concerns were quickly allayed when TxDOT offered a helping hand. Owner Jimmy Baltierra said, "All the work I put into this place, they're gonna pay me out for everything I spent. So, I was cool with it after that," in a conversation with KVUE. Nature's Treasures, known for its extensive collection of crystals, has managed to find a new location further north and is receiving additional funding, thanks to being recognized as a culturally significant space in Austin.
Despite financial support and assistance with moving, some community members are confronting the blueprints. The advocacy group Rethink35, which includes city leaders, is one of the opponents of the $4.5 billion expansion. They've been voicing various concerns about the effects it will have on the area's character and community. "Us being deemed [a] culturally significant space in Austin, we're getting a little bit of additional funding in terms of settling into the new space," store manager Michael Kallstrom shared with KVUE.
