An open house is scheduled for improvements along I-35 between Westinghouse Road and Hwy. 29 on April 12 from 6–8 p.m.

Proposed improvements in the 2.7-mile stretch include the addition of a northbound frontage road between Hwy. 29 and Southeast Inner Loop Drive, sidewalks between Southeast Inner Loop Drive and Westinghouse Road, an auxiliary lane to the existing northbound frontage road and northbound mainlane in some sections to help with traffic flow and an elevated turn-around bridge at RM 2243/Leander Road.

Williamson County, the Texas Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration are hosting the open house in the Human Resources Training Room of the Williamson County Inner Loop Annex, located at 301 S.E. Inner Loop Drive, Georgetown.

The open house will be held in a come-and-go format, and representatives from TxDOT and the county will be on hand to provide information and answer questions.

The proposed project is a part of the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization Transportation Improvement Program and the CAMPO 2035 Regional Transportation Plan.

Williamson County spokeswoman Connie Watson said the project has been planned for a while, and the engineer for the project was hired in April 2006.

Watson said after the public input process is complete, the environmental documents will be submitted to the Federal Highway Administration and other agencies, which could approve the project in the fall. The design would need to be finalized and utilities relocated before construction could start.

Those who are not able to attend the open house may submit written comments by April 23 to TxDOT Austin District Environmental Coordinator, Texas Department of Transportation, P.O. Box 15426, Austin, Texas 78761-5426 or by email to [email protected].