What residents should know
Crews are expected to begin construction to improve a roughly 1-mile stretch of Shell Road from Williams Drive to Sycamore Street on July 19, according to ClearGov, a government budgeting software the city uses.
According to city documents, the existing undivided roadway with with one lane in each direction will be transformed into a roadway with:
- Two lanes in each direction
- New storm drain infrastructure
- Upgraded traffic signals at existing signaled intersections
- A traffic signal at Rosedale Boulevard and Village Commons Boulevard
- New left and right turn lanes at intersections
- Improved pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure
- Improved roadway illumination
A long time coming
Shell Road was previously expected to begin construction in March, according to previous Community Impact reporting.
In a June 25 Facebook post, Mayor Josh Schroeder said officials are having a hard time keeping road projects on schedule mainly due to third-party delays.
The widening project started advertising for public bids March 16, per city documents.
Funding the project
The Shell Road widening will be funded through a mixture of certificate of obligation bonds, general obligation bonds and general obligation bond interest, according to ClearGov.
Local governments may finance public infrastructure projects by issuing long-term debt, according to the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. While general obligation bonds require voter approval through a bond election, certificates of obligation do not.
In May 2021, Georgetown voters approved a $90 million bond mobility bond to address nine road projects, Community Impact previously reported. The bond set aside $12.5 million for Shell Road.
The entire Shell Road widening project—including both design and construction—is projected to cost around $20.3 million, according to ClearGov.
