Pflugerville City Council approved a $177,330 professional services agreement with LJA Engineering to begin engineering work for a planned extension of Terrell Lane, a project officials say could help ease traffic congestion and provide an alternate route during future roadway construction.
The measure passed 4–2, with council members David Rogers and Melody Ryan voting against it.
Two-minute impact
The proposed extension would connect roadways near the Stone Hill area and eventually link into Kingston Lacey, creating an additional east-west route.
Mayor Doug Weiss said the project is being considered in part to reduce pressure on nearby FM 685, which is expected to undergo major expansion work in the coming years.
“FM 685 is going to require quite extensive work as we expand it. This provides relief to that route,” Weiss said.
Danny Magee, Pflugerville’s director of traffic and transportation, said the engineering work is intended to move the project quickly toward construction readiness if funding becomes available.
“The goal here is to incorporate several relief routes,” Magee said. “We’re trying to expedite these so they’ll be on the shelf if we’re able to get the money in the near future.”
Magee described the project as a “greenfield” road design—meaning it would be built on undeveloped land—which can allow faster planning and construction than roadway improvements in built-out areas.
Some council members raised questions about whether the city had coordinated with landowners in the area before launching the engineering study.
Magee said the city has not yet contacted property owners because the current contract is intended to determine the most feasible route before beginning those discussions.
“At this point, we have not coordinated with any landowner,” Magee said. “This is just a route study to see where it makes sense.”
The extension is already included in the city’s transportation plan, which allows the city to begin studying potential alignments.
City leaders said the project could eventually help relieve congestion near the Stone Hill area, where traffic regularly backs up.
What to expect
The engineering study will analyze three possible routes for extending Terrell Lane through eastern Pflugerville and recommend a preferred alignment.
Engineers will review existing site conditions using mapping data and field observations, and evaluate how the roadway could connect with nearby corridors including Pfluger Farm Lane, East Pflugerville Parkway and Pfennig Lane.
The study will also examine drainage and floodplain conditions near Wilbarger Creek, which could affect where the road can be built.
Findings will be compiled into a preliminary engineering report outlining the feasibility of each route and identifying a recommended path for future design and construction.
