The project will include 1.8 miles of new roadway intended to connect New Hope Drive from Ronald Reagan Boulevard to Sam Bass Road.
Once completed, the new road will be a divided four-lane roadway with a 110-foot right-of-way, raised medians, traffic signals, LED streetlights, bike lanes, sidewalks and storm water controls.
City staff received seven proposals from prospective contractors, each of which were evaluated by a committee using a scoring system and numerical criteria matrix to determine the best option.
The committee selected Austin Engineering Co. Inc. as the contractor for the New Hope Drive extension project. The company had the lowest cost proposal.
Construction began in mid-October and is projected to take 512 days to complete. The project is anticipated to be completed around March 2024.
“[I’m] looking forward to New Hope Road being extended,” Council Member Mel Kirkland said at the meeting. “That’s a project we’ve been hearing about for lots of years, and I’m glad to say that we’re finally at the point where we’re extending that and completing that roadway section across the city.”
Utilities Engineering Manager Mike Huber said at the meeting the project is now fully funded.
Cedar Park’s portion of the total $30 million project cost is roughly $22.6 million, and is funded through the city’s bond and utility funds. Williamson County will fund the remaining portion of the cost.
ONGOING PROJECTS
Whitestone Boulevard improvements
The design phase for improvements to Whitestone Boulevard from New Hope Drive to Bagdad Road in Cedar Park began earlier this year and will last until May 2024. The project includes widening Whitestone to a six-lane major roadway with raised medians, new curbs and gutters, street lighting and traffic signal modifications.
Timeline: May 2022-May 2024 (design); TBD (construction)
Cost: TBD
Funding sources: Cedar Park, Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
Heritage Grove Road improvements
This project will make the road two lanes with a center turn lane, according to Leander. It will improve traffic from larger vehicles and future development. Atlas 14 information, which provides rainfall data for stormwater infrastructure, required a redesign.
Timeline: May 2023-April 2024
Cost: $3.2 million
Funding source: city of Leander
