Transportation Updates1. Toll 183A/US 183 intersection

In October the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority finished rebuilding the intersection of Toll 183A and US 183 in Leander. The project is intended to give drivers safer turn lanes. It includes widened roads and new sidewalks as well as improvements to signals and drainage. Road crews added a tie-in for future construction of a new intersecting street, Bryson Ridge Trail.

Timeline: November 2014-October 2015 Cost: $5.8 million Funding sources: Mobility Authority, Crescent Communities

2. Old FM 2243 widening

On Oct. 15, Leander City Council approved a construction bid for a project to widen Old FM 2243 from two to five lanes between US 183 and North Lakeline Boulevard. Leander and Williamson County have agreed on an interlocal agreement for the 18-month project. The work will likely begin in December or early 2016 and will include conversion of drainage ditches to storm sewers. Crews will add turn lanes for businesses and cross streets. Timeline: December 2015-spring 2017 Cost: $24 million (estimated) Funding sources: city of Leander, Williamson County (50 percent or up to $9.15 million)

Transportation Updates Municipal Drive widening/extension[/caption]

3. Municipal Drive widening/extension

In October the city of Leander opened Municipal Drive to through traffic. Since August the road was open to school traffic near the newly opened Camacho Elementary School. The extended and widened road connects Bagdad Road and South West Drive. Timeline: fall 2014-October 2015 Cost: $6.9 million Funding sources: Leander ISD, city of Leander ($2.5 million reimbursement)

4. Cypress Creek Road/Lakeline Boulevard turn lanes

Some business entrances are occasionally closed during a project at the intersection of Cypress Creek Road and Lakeline Boulevard, where crews are extending dual left-turn lanes on north- and southbound Lakeline. Construction also includes widening existing left- and right-turn lanes and adding medians and two new right-turn lanes each on east- and westbound Cypress Creek. The city-led project is meant to improve traffic efficiency and will also relocate sidewalks and streetlights. Updates are occasionally posted on www.cedarparktexas.gov/construction. Timeline: June-January 2016 Cost: $2.2 million Funding sources: city of Cedar Park, Williamson County

5. Little Elm Trail gaps

On Oct. 22, Cedar Park City Council approved a $5 million contractor bid for a project to fill in gaps of Little Elm Trail. The work will last about a year and will finish Little Elm as a four-lane road that connects Bell Boulevard to Lakeline Boulevard. Timeline: December-November 2016 Cost: $7.06 million Funding sources: city of Cedar Park ($2.98 million); Cedar Park Community Development Corp., also known as the 4B Board ($550,000); Williamson County ($3.53 million)

Transportation Updates East Whitestone Boulevard[/caption]

6. East Whitestone Boulevard

As of Nov. 5 work was about 48 percent complete on a project to rebuild the intersection of East Whitestone Boulevard and Parmer Lane/Ronald Reagan Boulevard into a partial continuous-flow intersection. When the project is finished, Whitestone will be widened from four to six lanes between Market Street and CR 175/Sam Bass Road and will have longer turn lanes at the road’s intersections with Toro Grande Drive, Raley Road and Sam Bass. Timeline: August 2014-June 2016 Cost: $22 million Funding sources: city of Cedar Park (Texas Department of Transportation will reimburse 80 percent of actual construction costs), Williamson County

7. North Bagdad Road widening

Leander City Council plans to solicit bids by Jan. 1 for a project to widen Bagdad Road from two to five lanes between Old FM 2243 and CR 280. The work will likely begin by spring. Timeline: spring 2016-fall 2017 Cost: $13 million (estimated) Funding sources: city of Leander, Williamson County (50 percent or at most $4.9 million)

8. West Whitestone Boulevard center turn lane

TxDOT is adding a center turn lane on Whitestone Boulevard for about 1.4 miles between Anderson Mill and Bagdad roads. As of Nov. 7 the project was about 77 percent complete. Timeline: April 2014-late fall 2015 Cost: $4.8 million Funding sources: TxDOT