Roads around St. Stephen’s continues to evolve this year with major construction underway in accordance with the Loop 360 Project, which is expected to be completed 2026. This ambitious plan aims to significantly improve traffic flow and the pedestrian experience near Westlake Drive and Davenport Village, for day students travelling to St. Stephen’s in the morning.
According to a meeting held earlier this year by TxDOT’s South Travis Office, portions of Loop 360 have long been recognized on the Texas Transportation Institute’s list of most congested roadways. “We still have a lot of work to do, but now [the project] is very visible,” says Kath Seth, Loop 360 public involvement coordinator. “When it’s finished, you could walk from St. Stephen’s, have lunch at Jack Allen’s, cross the Westlake Drive Bridge, go to Davenport Village, and then walk north and go to the Pennybacker Bridge and then loop back around — it’s all going to be accessible and walkable.”
One of the most immediate impacts for drivers near St. Stephen’s is the closure of the east/west access road at the Cedar Street and Loop 360 intersection for bridge construction. The process is expected to last around 4 months if the weather permits it, with detours in place that may lengthen travel times. Overnight single-lane closures on northbound Loop 360 are also scheduled through early September.
Despite these disruptions, progress has been steady. The new Westlake Drive Bridge opened ahead of schedule, improving access just before school started. Following the completion of the Westlake Drive bridge, this project will shift focus to the Cedar Street intersection, which will close for approximately eight months to allow excavation and bridge construction. Phase two, which involves building new frontage roads and bicycle and pedestrian paths, is already underway.
For now, students should expect some delays and adjust their routes accordingly. However, while the roadwork demands some patience now, the end result will be a more accessible and pedestrian-friendly community, benefiting St. Stephen’s students whether they drive, bike, or walk to wherever they need to go.
