The overview:
According to TxDOT, the existing roadway, which includes one travel lane each way and center turn lane, doesn’t provide adequate capacity to address the current and future traffic volumes, resulting in congestion and reduced mobility. Drivers also can make unpredictable left turns that could be difficult for other drivers to anticipate, the department stated in a presentation asking for public input.
The details:
In order to address the needs of the roadway, the project would widen Leander Road to two lanes each way as well as construct raised medians with dedicated turn lanes, install a new signal at RM 2243 and River Ridge Drive and reconstruct the Southwest Bypass intersection. Pedestrian and bike improvements, from the Southwest Bypass to the I-35 frontage road, include a 10-foot paved path with room for both cyclists and pedestrians, separated from vehicle traffic. The final design of the project is expected to be done sometime in 2025. Meanwhile, construction of the new road improvements is not expected to begin until 2026.
The cost:
Funding for the $15.8 million project, meant to improve the safety for travelers, comes from both TxDOT and the city of Georgetown. Voters approved setting aside $7.7 million for the project during the 2021 mobility bond program.
