TRANSPORTATION UPDATES

FM 6851. FM 685

The project is a major overhaul of FM 685 in Hutto between SH 130 and Hwy. 79. The road will be widened from two lanes to four lanes. Medians and turn lanes will be added, and two new bridges 12 feet higher than the current bridges will be built. The work is intended to improve traffic flow and safety. Beams were set on the new southbound bridge in the first week of July. Timeline: October 2014-fall 2016 Cost: $15 million Funding sources: Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, city of Hutto

Pfennig Lane and East Pflugerville Parkway lane closures2. Pfennig Lane and East Pflugerville Parkway lane closures

The city of Pflugerville will temporarily close lanes on the roads to work on utilities in the area. Though there will be lane closures, the road itself will not be worked on. Timeline: August 2015-March 2016 Cost: $1.3 million Funding sources: city of Pflugerville

3. I-35 ramp reversals

This project alters the locations of four entrance and exit ramps on I-35 between Hwy. 79 and Old Settlers Boulevard in Round Rock to better accommodate the flow of traffic. The northbound traffic switch to the new exit should occur by mid-August, weather permitting. Timeline: October 2014-March 2016 Cost: $5.6 million Funding sources: city of Round Rock, Texas Department of Transportation

East Pflugerville Parkway4. East Pflugerville Parkway

A private developer completed improvements on the road from just east of SH 130 to Colorado Sand Drive in July. The improvements include widening existing lanes, constructing a 10-foot-wide hike and bike trail, and installing additional streetlights. The project is now finished. Timeline: January-mid July 2015 Cost: $4.44 million Funding sources: Newland Communities

5. University Boulevard widening

The city of Round Rock plans to widen the road to a six-lane, divided roadway from Sunrise Road to I-35. The median will control left turns, which will increase traffic flow, according to city officials. The plan also involves adding dedicated right- and left-turn lanes. The city began acquiring right of way in June. Timeline: construction to start by spring 2016 Cost: $13 million-$15 million Funding sources: city of Round Rock, Williamson County

La Frontera development6. La Frontera development

Round Rock will improve the existing roadway conditions and road surfaces of portions of Parker Road, Kouri Avenue and Sundance Parkway in the La Frontera development. The city will reconstruct and rehabilitate the roads, which will include environmental investigations and geotechnical studies. Sundance is closed to through traffic from the I-35 frontage road to Kouri. Traffic on Parker is restricted to one lane in each direction. Timeline: May-October Cost: $3.1 million Funding sources: city of Round Rock