Williamson County broke ground on Segment 1 of its Southeast Loop Project on June 30.

The 9-mile project will contain three segments and create a critical roadway for infrastructure in Precinct 4, spanning from CR 138 at SH 130 to CR 137 in Hutto.

Precinct 4 Commissioner Russ Boles said as the cities of Hutto and Taylor continue to grow, Hwy. 79 is expected to become more congested, and the existing segment could become dangerous with more traffic.

“We wanted to make sure that people could get around safely, faster all the way around,” he said.

Segment 1 will have two to three lanes going in each direction with a potential deceleration lane. Construction is scheduled to begin in July. Boles said the total project could take decades to complete but that it would not get finished until it started.

Boles said the projected construction cost of Segment 1 is $11.53 million, funded through a voter-approved 2019 road bond, and completion is estimated for late 2022.