Williams Drive Bridge project in Georgetown nears finish line

Georgetown residents driving along Williams Drive will notice a significant mobility shift in early 2024 as the Texas Department of Transportation completes construction of the Williams Drive Bridge and opens a new diverging diamond interchange, or DDI.

What’s happening

Crews are in the final stages of construction, which includes making drainage improvements, constructing the DDI and restriping portions of the road. Drivers will notice several lane closures while crews complete the final steps, TxDOT Communications Officer Brad Wheelis said.

Northbound drivers looking to enter I-35 will also regain access to the entrance ramp near Williams Drive, which closed in September. The ramp will reopen after crews complete the drainage improvements.

The details

A DDI is a safer, relatively low-cost type of interchange that allows cars to pass through busy intersections more easily by eliminating the need for making left turns toward oncoming traffic, according to TxDOT. Drivers navigating the new DDI will temporarily shift to the left side of the road when crossing over I-35. These types of intersections greatly reduce the potential for T-bone and head-on collisions, Wheelis said.

“Once drivers go through the DDI a couple of times, they typically get the hang of it,” Wheelis said.

The project will be completed in January after over three years of construction.

• Timeline: October 2020-January 2024
• Cost: $61.7 million
• Funding source: TxDOT and Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization