Two-minute impact
On Feb. 28, officials broke ground on the 3-mile CR 255 project, which will remove sharp turns, improve safety and increase mobility, according to a county news release.
Construction crews will create a new roadway with one lane in each direction from CR 254 to CR 289, expanding the road from its current one lane. Additionally, crews will extend CR 255 from CR 289 to Ronald Reagan Boulevard, per the release.
Funding for the roughly $20.8 million project comes from the Williamson County Road & Bridge Fund, Precinct 3 Commissioner Valerie Covey said.
What to expect
Once construction of the new two-lane roadway is complete, traffic will shift onto the new pavement and the existing roadway will be removed, according to county documents.
Driveways connected to CR 255 within the project limits will be reconnected to the new CR 255 roadway. The driveway improvement project secured funding through a voter-approved 2019 road bond, per county documents.
Eventually, CR 255 will become a six-lane, median divided roadway, per the Williamson County Long Range Transportation Plan. Additional lanes won’t be constructed until funding is available and the need arises, per the release.
Covey said officials have acquired right of way for the road’s ultimate buildout.
“We've got to have alternatives to [US] 183 and Williams Drive, and even Ronald Reagan [Boulevard],” Covey said. “That's what we're working on.”
Sorting out details
Utilities and drainage made the project’s alignment complicated to plan, Covey said. The project is within Georgetown’s water utility service area, which has a large waterline, she said.
As a result, both Williamson County and Georgetown officials were involved in a joint bid for a waterline relocation for the project, per the release.
Put in perspective
Between 2019-23, Williamson County’s population grew by 17.58% from 547,604 to 643,889 residents, according to previous Community Impact reporting. After raising her family in Williamson County, Covey said she understands people’s desire to move to the area.
“I just got off the phone with a guy that wants to put thousands of homes in Williamson County,” Covey said. “That's because the businesses that are moving here, their folks want to live here.”
Covey said Williamson County is forward thinking when it comes to transportation.
“We have not only planned out for the total buildout of the county through our Long Range Transportation Plan, but we're implementing it,” Covey said.
