I had to go to Austin for a meeting this week and my wife and I decided we wanted to check out the new TX 130. Many years ago (yes I am really that old) I used to take Mrs oldvalley rat to San Marcos before cutting across to A&M and we used to avoid San Antonio like the plague. (No IH35 or 37!) We would cut across at Three Rivers to Kenedy and Karnes city to Seguin. We did this again and TX 130 starts at Seguin and ends up at Airport Blvd east of Austin.

Wow TX130 is nice. Speed limit is 85 and there is absolutely NO traffic. You miss that mess going though SA and the traffic between SA-New Braunfels-San Marcos and part of Austin.

It doesn't seem to be much farther, odomenter said 300 Miles which is the same as 35/37.

You might try it next time you travel up to Austin, it is a good drive.

[This message has been edited by oldvalleyrat (edited 11/2/2012 5:26a).]

[This message has been edited by oldvalleyrat (edited 11/2/2012 5:27a).]

I can't wait to use it on my next drive up North.

I'm headed to see the parents next weekend in the Valley. I can't wait to see if it makes that big of a difference on time.

Drove to and from CS this weekend using the new toll road. Got off/on via 21 to Bastrop.

5:44 going up Friday, 5:32 coming back Sunday

402 miles from my house in 78504 to my house in 77845

I think I can save a few more minutes (but not miles) by taking the toll road all the way to Austin and then 72 (?) from there to Bastrop. 21 into Bastrop straight out sux pond water.

Heading to Austin tomorrow.

Gonna give it a try for chits and giggles but I also think it may be a promising start.

The day this gets segmented and tied into 37/69/281 will change the way South Texans go north.

Be safe and let us know how it goes.

I agree this corridor is going to be the primary route north towards the northern part of the state.

The next thing I am looking forward to is them "finally" completing the overpasses through Fal. It seems like they have been working on that mess for years.

They alwo need to put a bypass around Premont! I have to be so careful to watch the speed limit there.

oldvalleyrat: the project for Premont has been funded in TxDOT's Unified Transportation Program, the only thing at the moment is the decision of the route.

It could go through town or with a bypass alternative.

I think the timetable is the key issue here, as the bypass is probably faster by 1-2 years.

Really looking forward to this stuff moving forward.

So, for the 2nd time now Ive taken the new 130 route

First trip:
Trip computer set driving out of my driveway in CS and stopped at 281/1925

5 hrs 41 minutes at an avg speed of 71 mph going up 281 - 37 - 410 - 10W - 130 - 21 East thru Bastrop Caldwell etc.

Second trip I'm on now and I'm sure I saved 15-20 minutes by taking 72 out of Three Rivers and grabbing 123 to Seguin to get to 10W and then 130.

I need to try staying on 130 all the way to 290 and cut thru Elgin to miss Bastrop and ****** Hwy 21 altogether. Few more miles but I'm guessing faster....plus I can grab a sammich at Southside Mkt

[This message has been edited by SPI-FlatsCatter 84 (edited 11/10/2012 9:13a).]

I drove it yesterday from the Valley to Austin.

took 281-59-37-1604-10-130-Austin. That version saved me 20 minutes.

I'm certain that if I took:

281-59-37-72-123-10-130-Austin that would save somewhere around 45 minutes.

Very impressed with how smooth 130 is and if someone is heading north of Austin this should be the only way to go....awesome route to Dallas etc.