Georgetown's Southwest Bypass officially opens

Williamson County and the city of Georgetown announced the opening of the final 1.5 miles of the Southwest Bypass project May 26.

This final segment connects the city's portion of the project—Hwy. 29 to RM 2243—to the southbound access road of I-35 at SE Inner Loop, a news release said. The project is a key component in the overall Williamson County Long-Range Transportation Plan, the release said.

For nearly two decades, Williamson County planned this mobility project to be a critical connection to relieve congestion at main intersections of I-35 in Georgetown as the area continues to grow, the release said. Now, the brand-new arterial roadway gives transportation options to those who live, work and spend time in the area, it said.

The final portion project cost $19.8 million and was funded with Williamson County voter-approved road bonds. The entire bypass was built in three segments over four years.

“Today’s celebration is the product of long-term collaborative efforts between Williamson County, the city of Georgetown and Texas Crushed Stone. For nearly 20 years, local leaders have sought a west side bypass to enhance safety and mobility in a fast-growing area," Williamson County Precinct 3 Commissioner Valerie Covey said in the release.

Georgetown Mayor Dale Ross said the 4-mile loop around the southwest side of the city provides a key connection for Georgetown drivers. The city opened the initial 2.4-mile segment of the bypass in 2018, and it was funded through 2015 voter-approved bonds, he said.

"[Southwest Bypass] is one of the largest city council transportation projects to be completed," Dale said. "It is important to recognize that this major transportation project took tremendous amount of cooperation between the city of Georgetown and Williamson County."