St. Edward’s University students might be familiar with traffic and the ongoing construction on Interstate 35, but many may not be aware of the recently approved five-year I-35 plan.

The plan hopes to expand the lanes and decrease traffic for commuters traveling between San Antonio, Austin, Dallas, Ft. Worth and Waco.

The five-year expansion plan broke ground during the summer, and more projects are expected to begin in the summer of 2011. The $1.9 billion budget is mostly funded by $5 billion road bond measure Proposition 12, which was approved by voters in 2007.

Only two projects under the plan are being funded by Proposition 14 and the federal stimulus program.

This could mean even more temporary road traffic for students who are already frustrated by the gridlock.

“Getting out of Austin is awful. It’s really stop-and-go at downtown and then again when hitting Round Rock,” senior Alexandra Bruno said. “Traffic is very unpredictable and there’s always a lot of construction, but once you’re out of Austin, it flows really well.”

An estimated 45 percent of the Texas population resides along the I-35 corridor, and nearly 1,000 people are moving there every day, according to the Texas Department of Transportation.

A recent traffic survey outside North Waco reported that 73,500 vehicles travel the I-35 corridor each day. That number is expected to jump to 102,600 vehicles by 2030.

“Hillsboro traffic has been getting progressively worse, and the south part of Waco is backed up a lot, especially in the last six months or so,” senior Stephanie Happe said. “But the traffic outside of Austin is getting much better than it used to be.”

By 2015, the current two lanes will be expanded to make three lanes in each direction, running from Austin to where the road splits in Hillsboro.

The expansion and road improvements are meant to help transition the population and traffic increases in the short-term Waco residents are currently considering a plan to increase the number of lanes from three to four.

“TXDot’s overall commitment is to eventually widen I-35 to a minimum of six lanes from San Antonio and Hillsboro,” TXDot spokesperson Jodi Wheatley said. “Land is being purchased now for the projects’ right-of-way in the future, but as of now we are working on reaching four lane expansions in both directions.”

Construction is currently taking place on a stretch of I-35 from Williamson and Bell Counties to the split at Hillsboro.

Lane closures will be kept to a minimum during daytime hours during the holiday season. Construction will take place 7 p.m. – 7 a.m. during the week and 10 p.m. – 7 a.m. on Sundays; the majority of construction will take place at night.

“We understand I-35 is an important corridor for students, business commuters and freights,” TXDot spokeswoman Karen Amacker said. “Drivers should use caution when driving in construction areas; set cell phones down and stay safe. Watch out for the orange construction blocks, barricades and construction workers on the side of the road.”

For students planning to travel on I-35, updated border road conditions can be viewed at http://www.my35.org/.