The north segment of the Southwest Bypass, a new roadway designed to draw local traffic away from I-35 and improve travel between the south and west areas of Georgetown, will open Wednesday, July 18, according to an announcement today from Georgetown city officials. Under construction since 2016, the $18.3 million north segment begins near the intersection of West University Avenue and D.B. Wood Road and extends 2.4 miles south to connect with Leander Road. A $19.8 million south segment broke ground in August 2017 to extend the new roadway by 1.25 miles between Leander Road and I-35 to the south. Construction of the south segment, which is overseen by Williamson County, should finish by late 2019, according to the city announcement. Georgetown funded the north segment through a city bond referendum approved by voters in May 2015. Jordan Foster Construction was the contractor for the north segment, and engineering work was completed by HDR. The city will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 9 a.m. on July 18 at a bridge on the new roadway just south of Wolf Ranch Parkway.