Though not included in the fiscal year 2023-24 budget, city staff identified an additional $41,000 for the project at the FM 3349 and Hwy. 79 intersection "due to actual investment earning being higher than budgeted," according to city documents.
The phrase "Welcome to Hutto" will be engraved on the overpass for travelers heading in the westbound direction coming from Taylor, while "Thank you for visiting Hutto" will be displayed on the eastbound side of the bridge.
More details
The city is paying for the beautification portion of road improvements along FM 3349, while Williamson County is taking the lead on further road improvements.
The full scope of work includes widening the existing two-lane FM 3349 to four lanes with a bridge over Hwy. 79 and the Union Pacific Railroad track—a significant win for the city's north and south traffic flow.
“An improved interchange will provide a safer, more efficient rail crossing in this growing area and create an opportunity to bypass Hwy. 79 in the city of Hutto, which experiences severe traffic congestion and delays of almost three minutes per train passing, up to 20 times per day," according to county documents.
The overpass will also enhance the mobility of emergency service vehicles and school buses, as well as improve connectivity between industrial and commercial zones, such as Samsung.
There are only two other overpasses on the east side of the county, Williamson County Precinct 4 Commissioner Russ Boles said in a news release.
WilCo's portion of road improvements is included in the county's Longe-Range Transportation Plan. Funding for the $82 million total cost of the project comes from both 2019 voter-approved road bonds and the Texas Department of Transportation.
What you need to know
Construction began in 2022 and is expected to be complete by the summer of 2025.
Temporary alterations to traffic patterns will soon be implemented for drivers along this route. Motorists traveling on FM 3349 and CR 101 will no longer have the option to continue straight or turn left at the Hwy. 79 intersection.
Instead, they will be required to make a right turn onto Hwy. 79, followed by executing a U-turn at the median. Meanwhile, drivers on Hwy. 79 will retain the ability to turn onto CR 101 or FM 3349 at the same juncture.
