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The Texas Department of Transportation, or TxDOT, oversees Texas transportation and is headquartered in Austin. The Texas Legislature created the organization in 1917, although the agency has had several names throughout the past century.TxDOT is run by a five-member commission and an executive director selected by the commission. Commission members are appointed by the governor, with the advice of the Texas Senate, and serve overlapping six-year terms.The department is divided into 25 districts, each of which oversees construction and maintenance of state highways. Austin’s district includes Bastrop, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Gillespie, Hays, Lee, Llano, Mason, Travis and Williamson counties.In Austin, the organization encompasses entities including Capital Metro; the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, known as CAMPO; the city’s transportation department; and the chamber of commerce. TxDOT organized the “Don’t Mess with Texas” anti-litter campaign, which began in 1986. Also, it runs the TxTag program, which bills drivers for highway tolls by scanning a sticker on the driver’s windshield at toll stations.

Lane Closures Could Slow Northbound I-35 This Weekend

Northbound traffic on Interstate 35 around Ben White could be slow this weekend as the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) closes lanes to allow crews to work on a flyover.

Here's the schedule:

10 pm Friday to 4 am Saturday

  • Northbound I-35 reduced to one lane from Stassney Ln. to Woodward St.
  • Northbound access road reduced to one lane from Stassney Ln. to Woodward St.
  • The northbound entrance ramp from Stassney Ln. will close.

4 am Saturday to 10 pm Sunday

  • Northbound I-35 will be reduced to two lanes from Stassney Ln. to Woodward St.

At an unspecified time "early Sunday morning"

  • Northbound access road will be reduced to one lane for about two hours.
  • North to south u-turn lane at Ben White will close until 5 am Monday.

The $26 million project will complete flyovers linking I-35 with Ben White Blvd/US 290.  It is scheduled to be completed in September. You can read more information about the project on TxDOT's website.

Nathan Bernier is the transportation reporter at KUT. Got a tip? Email him at nbernier@kut.org. Follow him on Twitter @KUTnathan.
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