TRANSPORTATION UPDATES1. Southwest Bypass and Wolf Ranch Parkway construction


The city of Georgetown broke ground in June on the project to build the Southwest Bypass and Wolf Ranch Parkway extension, which will connect Hwy. 29 at D.B. Wood Road to Leander Road. Georgetown voters approved funding for the project as part of a $105 million road bond in May 2015. Williamson County will continue the bypass from Leander Road to I-35. Design work by contractor HDR is underway on the county’s portion. Construction on the connection points for the county’s portion of the new roadway, which began in April, was completed in July.

Timeline: June 2016-mid-2018
Cost: $18.3 million
Funding sources: city of Georgetown 2015 road bond



2. Mays Street extension


The city of Georgetown could break ground on a project to extend Mays Street from Teravista Parkway and Bass Pro Drive in Round Rock to the intersection of Westinghouse and Rabbit Hill roads in Georgetown in late August. The city’s plans will connect with Williamson County’s plans to extend Mays north from Paloma Drive in Round Rock. Once both sections are completed, Oakmont is expected to be renamed as Mays Street to create a continuous roadway from Hesters Crossing Road in Round Rock to Westinghouse in Georgetown. The roadway is expected to help economic development in the area.


Timeline: late August 2016-summer 2017
Cost: $7 million
Funding sources: city of Georgetown



3. FM 1460 expansion


Construction to widen FM 1460 from Quail Valley Drive in Georgetown to just north of University Boulevard in Round Rock continues. The project also includes signal and bridge improvements and is overseen by the Texas Department of Transportation. Traffic patterns on Quail Valley have changed because of construction.


Timeline: November 2015-fall 2017
Cost: $34.7 million
Funding sources: cities of Georgetown and Round Rock, TxDOT, Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, Williamson County



4. FM 971 at Austin Avenue


Construction to realign and make improvements to the intersection of FM 971 and Austin Avenue was expected to begin this fall; however, the city is still in discussions with TxDOT for construction agreements, Georgetown Transportation Services Director Ed Polasek said. The project is expected to align the intersection with the planned Northwest Boulevard bridge, which will span I-35. The FM 971 intersection improvements will also include a pedestrian tunnel along the east side of Austin Avenue. In March 2015 the city completed improvements in San Gabriel Park near the intersection to make room for the roadway improvements. TxDOT will complete the construction.


Timeline: TBD
Cost: $4 million
Funding sources: city of Georgetown 2008 road bond




Intersection improvements Intersection improvements[/caption]

5. Jim Hogg Road/Williams Drive


Construction to widen the Jim Hogg Road and Williams Drive intersection was completed in early July. The project is expected to improve access to the new City Services Center and nearby residential areas. Jim Hogg was widened to three lanes at the intersection. Crews also installed a new traffic signal at the intersection in April, and it became fully operational July 6.

Timeline: February-July
Cost: $725,000
Funding sources: city of Georgetown