1. Second Street rehabilitation
The city’s project to improve Second Street from Austin Avenue to College Street was substantially completed in January earlier than anticipated. The project also included sidewalk improvements along that portion of the roadway as well as utility relocations, including water and wastewater improvements. The project was part of the city’s overall street maintenance program. The section of roadway between Austin Avenue and Main Street opened to drivers in late November.
Timeline: July 2015-January 2016
Cost: $1.9 million
Funding sources: city of Georgetown
2. Sidewalk improvements
City Council could approve a construction contract in February to build Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant sidewalks along Martin Luther King Jr. and Third streets from Scenic Drive to Austin Avenue. Construction on the sidewalks is expected to start in March. Engineering company Steger Bizzell designed the project.
Timeline: March-summer 2016
Cost: $100,000
Funding sources: city of Georgetown, Community Development Block Grant funds
3. Austin Avenue improvements
City Council approved a $662,546 task order Jan. 12 with engineering firm Aguirre & Fields LP to develop preliminary design alternatives, environmental services and conduct public input meetings related to improvements to Austin Avenue between Morrow and Third streets, including the repair or replacement of the Austin Avenue bridges spanning the North and South San Gabriel rivers. The first public input meeting is planned for March 31.
The engineers are expected to present preliminary construction estimates to the council by the end of 2016 to determine if the city will move forward with repairing or replacing the bridges and what the final design will look like. Once the alignment has been selected, engineers will develop the schematic and 30 percent construction plans. Construction costs have not been determined. In 2014 the city was awarded $1.3 million for the project’s construction from the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization and has submitted an application for funding to the Texas Department of Transportation’s Off-System Bridge Replacement Program.
Timeline: December 2015-March 2017
Cost: $662,546
Funding sources: city of Georgetown
4. Jim Hogg Road/Drive at Williams Drive intersection improvements
Construction to improve the Jim Hogg Road/Drive intersection with Williams Drive will begin in February. The improvements include widening the road to three lanes at the intersection as well as adding a traffic signal. The improvements will improve access to Williams Drive for residents and city employees of the new City Service Center. The council approved a construction contract with Joe Bland Construction at its Jan. 12 meeting.
Timeline: February-summer 2016
Cost: $725,000
Funding sources: city of Georgetown
5.Wolf Ranch Parkway and Southwest Bypass
The Wolf Ranch Parkway extension and construction of Southwest Bypass are expected to help provide a connection from Leander Road to Hwy. 29. Voters approved funding for the roadways in May. The project will construct the bypass from Leander Road to the Wolf Ranch Parkway extension, which will be built from the bypass to DB Wood Road. City Council could approve a construction contract Feb. 23, and construction could begin in March.
Timeline: March-summer 2018
Cost: $18.8 million
Funding sources: city of Georgetown 2015 road bond
