Round Rock & Hutto

Recent updates

1. Railroad quiet zones Construction includes city of Round Rock and Union Pacific railroad work at street and railroad intersections. Crossings are being brought up to compliance with federal standards regarding quiet zone requirements. Crossings are electronically controlled by the train, which triggers traffic signals and clears the tracks of motorists. Union Pacific has installed signals at A. Burnet Street and B. St. Williams Street, though both are currently inactive. Status: Phase 1—quiet zones along C. Burnet to CR 172—is delayed, and Union Pacific may need additional changes made to the plan; Phase 2— D. Burnet to Red Bud Lane—is progressing, and crews are currently working on Hwy. 79 railroad crossing Cost: $4 million budgeted, $400,000 Texas Department of Transportation grant for safety improvements Funding source: budgeted, TxDOT 2. McNeil Road extension, Phase 2 The project will act as a bypass for downtown Round Rock, allowing traffic to flow more smoothly, reducing travel times and collisions. Phase 2 of the project will extend the roadway from Burnet Street to Georgetown Street. Status: construction began the final week of August and is expected to last nine to 10 months Timeline: August-May/June 2020 Cost: $3 million Funding source: budgeted/Type B 3. I-35 improvements from RM 1431 to FM 3406, northbound The project is designed to improve safety and mobility on I-35’s northbound frontage road as well as its exit ramp between RM 1431 and FM 3406. The expanded frontage road will widen from two to three lanes, relocate the exit ramp and add an extended exit lane between RM 1431 and FM 3406. Status: crews have reduced the northbound I-35 frontage road to one lane in preparation for work on expanding the frontage road Timeline: July-late 2020 Cost: $10.4 million Funding sources: Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, TxDOT 4. I-35 improvements from Hwy. 79 to SH 45 N, northbound The project includes new braided ramps along the northbound I-35 main lanes constructed between Hesters Crossing and RM 620 to help reduce merging conflicts. A third left-turn lane has been constructed for westbound Hwy. 79. Status: the project was completed late September Timeline: July 2016-September 2019 Cost: $28.1 million Funding source: TxDOT 5. Hwy. 79 median at Co-Op Boulevard Several improvement projects are in the works for areas surrounding the Co-Op District, a mixed-use development in Hutto. A raised median on Hwy. 79 is under construction, and a traffic signal is in the works for the entrance to the Co-Op District at Hwy. 79 and Co-Op Boulevard. Status: contractor anticipates receiving traffic signal hardware in mid-October to complete project; nighttime lane closures continue Timeline: June-October Cost: $647,000 Funding source: MA Partners

Upcoming projects

6. RM 620 improvements The city of Round Rock, Williamson County and TxDOT are partnering on the RM 620 project, which will feature improvements from Deep Wood Drive to I-35. The project will add frontage road lanes as well as construct a bridge over the railroad crossing at Chisholm Trail Road and add a roundabout underneath the bridge. To help maintain access to businesses and residential spaces in the area, access roads will be built between Lake Creek Drive and Chisholm Trail Road. A second bridge will be constructed to carry RM 620 traffic over Lake Creek Drive. Status: TxDOT let the project for bidding in August Timeline: project anticipated to begin construction in the fall Cost: $40 million Funding sources: TxDOT, Williamson County, city of Round Rock 7. FM 1660 intersection improvements Three FM 1660 intersections— A. North FM 1660 at Limmer Loop, B. North FM 1660 at Hwy. 79 and C. South FM 1660 at Front Street—were incorporated as part of the city of Hutto’s 2018 transportation bonds. The intersection updates were designed to help improve traffic backups within city limits. Status: city’s consultant has begun detailed designs with an anticipated construction start date, beginning with FM 1660 at Limmer Loop, set for early 2020 Timeline: TBD Cost: $6 million Funding source: city of Hutto 2018 transportation bond 8. Hwy. 79 crossing The city of Hutto is in the process of creating a way over or under Hwy. 79 as a means to connect the northern and southern sections of the city. Preliminary plans show the connector road located between CR 132 and CR 134 near Hwy. 79. The overpass/underpass would connect to CR 132 north of Hwy. 79. Status: currently in the preliminary design phase with anticipated construction start in spring 2020 Timeline: TBD Cost: $32 million Funding source: city of Hutto 2018 transportation bond

Pflugerville

Recent updates

1. Weiss Lane improvements The project is designed to widen Weiss Lane from Wilbarger Creek to Cele Road from two lanes to four along with curb, gutter and drainage improvements. The southernmost section running from Wilbarger to East Pecan Street will also be reconstructed as a two-lane highway with shoulders included. The project also includes reconstruction of all bridge structures. Status: construction completed in October; ribbon-cutting ceremony Oct. 17 Timeline: March 2017-October 2019 Cost: $22 million Funding sources: city of Pflugerville, Travis County 2. Pfennig Lane widening and reconstruction The project will reconstruct and widen Pfennig Lane to a three-lane road with curbs and gutters from Rocky Creek Drive to Justice Center Drive. The new configuration includes one lane in each direction and a two-way left-turn center lane. Pfennig is reduced to one lane of westbound traffic for the first phase of the project, with eastbound traffic detouring through East Pflugerville Parkway and FM 685. Status: Phase 1 of the project is 85% complete Timeline: anticipated completion winter 2019 Cost: $1.62 million Funding source: 2014 city of Pflugerville transportation bond 3. SH 130 widening Crews are widening existing main lanes and bridges of SH 130 to add a third lane in both northbound and southbound directions between SH 45 N and Hwy. 290 East. Status: Howard Lane and Parmer Lane bridges are 90% complete; concrete paving has been completed between Hwy. 290 and Parmer; concrete paving being placed from Parmer to Gilleland Timeline: October 2018-late 2020 Cost: $36.7 million Funding source: Central Texas Turnpike System

Upcoming projects

4. Kelly Lane improvements The project will widen Kelly Lane to a four-lane road running from West Falcon Pointe Boulevard to Moonlynch Avenue. Project improvements include curb and gutter, sidewalks, storm sewer, streetlights and operational traffic signals. Status: City Council awarded engineering design contracts for phases 2 and 3 Aug. 27 Timeline: TBD Cost: $7.81 million Funding source: 2018 city of Pflugerville transportation bond 5. Old Austin-Hutto Road improvements The project will widen Old Austin-Hutto Road into a three-lane highway and includes pavement improvements. The updated configuration will include one lane in each direction and a roundabout in addition to a two-way left-turn center lane. Status: final design for the project is currently in progress Timeline: construction expected to begin early 2020 Cost: $3.7 million Funding sources: 2014 city of Pflugerville transportation bonds for design, 2018 city of Pflugerville bonds for construction