Simple traffic solutions for South Austin (Individual cases, not the whole place obviously)

I would like to offer up the following suggestions as simply inexpensive semi-solutions to traffic issues in the area. None of these involve all that much construction work but would be really beneficial. If you've toughed through these problems then you might get this, if you haven't you'll just be bored (probably) reading it:

1.

Problem: Traffic slows down ridiculously in the right-lane of northbound I-35 between William Cannon and Ben White

Solution: Add an exit lane so that cars entering the freeway don’t have to merge immediately with cars that are trying to get over to exit, as well as with cars that are going straight but are stuck in the right lane because semi-trucks and people going too slow in the left-lane keep them there. The shoulder could easily be converted into one

2.

Problem: Traffic backs up on the westbound access road of the Ben White Freeway at Congress Ave.

Solution: Only allow left turns onto Congress from the left hand lane and dedicate the 2nd lane to the entrance ramp, also restripe the roadway so that the third lane can enter the ramp as well and merge there instead of what currently happens, which is cars zipper merging in the intersection to enter the ramp that is right after the light. This will also free up traffic at other sides of the intersection as the lights could be retimed since they’ll no longer need to accommodate such a long queue of cars. A better less simple solution is to build an entrance ramp before the light, but with the setup of the freeway there doing so would be complicated. Best solution: flyover ramp from 35 to Ben White…those are apparently going to be built sometime next year…ending one of the worst episodes of transportation planning I have ever seen.

3.

Problem: S. Congress narrows to two-lanes and as it goes through a busy stretch that includes apartments, a school and an intersection with William Cannon Dr.

Solution: For the love of all that is holy, at least build a turn-lane so left turning cars who have to wait for 20 cars to clear before they turn don’t stall traffic anymore.

4.

Problem: Southbound traffic on the Freeway lanes of I-35 slows down even more between William Cannon and Slaughter Lane.

Solution: Invert the on and off ramps between Slaughter and William Cannon so that all of the traffic entering and exiting the freeway there can use the nice and vacant two lane access road and free up room on the freeway for vehicles who aren’t entering and exiting there. This is actually a good idea for a number of places around Austin.