Downtown bus lanes to get rehab

Yesterday, the city began emergency spot repairs of Guadalupe and Lavaca bus lanes between Second and 18th streets. Now, far be it from we modest journalists at the Austin Monitor to spike the ball, but you might remember our coverage on how bus traffic on this section of the road is causing the pavement in the outside of the lanes to fail. In an email, Public Works Department spokesperson Alexandria Bruton told us, “This has been on our radar for a while but your coverage certainly helped raised the profile. We heard a lot from the community, which coupled with the fast deteriorating conditions, made this project a high priority to get done.” We’re absolutely happy to share the credit with the concerned public at large, and our greatest satisfaction is that bus riders, drivers and cyclists will enjoy a less teeth-shattering experience on one of the city’s busiest roadways. As for the project details themselves, according to a city press release, repairs “will involve removing the existing asphalt and subgrade material, and replacing it with a new, more robust pavement structure.” Repairs will also involve lane reductions while the repairs are made – Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. – through the end of June. The Public Works Department continued, “The emergency spot repairs in the downtown area are the first phase of a larger effort to address failing pavement in the bus lanes along the Guadalupe corridor. Additional repair work is planned this summer for Guadalupe from 20th Street to Koenig Lane.” The department promised to release more information once it becomes available.