Once completed, the 6.6-mile extension will consist of two tolled lanes in each direction located mainly within the existing US 183 median as well as expanded shared-use paths, according to Mobility Authority documents.
Phase 3 of the 183A Toll system is anticipated to save commuters time, eliminate the use of signalized intersections and provide a more reliable transportation option.
Construction on Phase 3 began in April 2021, and the roadway is expected to open in early 2025.
In March 2007, Phase 1 of the 183A Toll project system—from RM 620 to RM 1431—was completed.
A 5-mile extension from Cedar Park to Hero Way in Leander opened in April 2012 as Phase 2 of the project.
Since the 183A Toll project began, there has been growth on that corridor, Mobility Authority acting Director of Engineering Mike Sexton said.
Between now and 2040, Cedar Park’s population is projected to grow by 31%, Leander’s by 271% and Liberty Hill’s by 44%, according to Mobility Authority data. Because phases of the 183A Toll are aligned with these projections, Phase 3 is expected to accommodate this continued growth.
The estimated cost for Phase 3 of the project is $259 million, Sexton said. It is funded by the Mobility Authority through traffic revenue bonds and a Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act loan. Sexton said these loans will be paid back through the revenue collected from the toll.
“It’s allowed businesses and residential communities to have access to a freeway facility that allows those people to drive all the way to downtown Austin without having to stop at any stoplight,” Sexton said.
ONGOING PROJECTS
New Hope Drive extension
Design for the New Hope Drive extension project in Cedar Park is complete, and construction is expected to begin this fall. The project will extend New Hope from Ronald Reagan Boulevard to Sam Bass Road and upgrade the existing CR 272 from Ronald Reagan to Krienke Ranch Road.
Timeline: fall 2022-spring 2024
Cost: $3 million (design), $22 million (construction)
Funding sources: city of Cedar Park, Williamson County
Hero Way/Ronald Reagan Boulevard intersection improvements
Construction on a traffic signal at the Hero Way and Ronald Reagan Boulevard intersection in Leander is anticipated to begin in November, according to the city. This traffic light was recommended due to the high crash volume at this intersection.
Timeline: November 2022-mid-2023
Cost: TBD
Funding source: city of Leander
