Part of the RM 620 widening project between Hwy. 71 and Dave Drive is proposed to be added to the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization's 2027-2030 Transportation Improvement Program, with construction anticipated to begin at the start of fiscal year 2029.
The improvement program covers 2027-2030 and is periodically amended to reflect changes to project planning and development. It is adopted every two years and may be amended twice a year.
The overview
The RM 620 widening project will start at Hwy. 71 and extend to RM 2222.
The road will be widened to include six through lanes, raised medians, right- and left-turn lanes at certain intersections and a shared-use path on each side.
Currently, the project is divided into three sections in CAMPO's 2050 Regional Transportation Plan, with different anticipated start years for each section.
According to the plan, widening from Aria Drive to Hudson Bend Road is expected to begin in 2033, and widening from RM 2222 back to Hudson Bend Road is expected to begin in 2025.
“Phasing construction projects into different segments is common and based on various factors,” CAMPO Community Outreach Manager Doise Miers said in an email.
The issue
Lakeway City Council passed a resolution on Sept. 8 requesting changes to the project, citing concerns about traffic congestion and cost.
Mayor Thomas Kilgore said the construction plans from Hwy. 71 to Dave Drive may be interpreted to end the six-lane expansion at Aria Drive, near the intersection of Lake Travis High School.
“No sane traffic engineer would have [RM] 620’s expansion occur at the entrance of the high school …” Kilgore said. “‘Let’s take the busiest intersection that has 3,500 cars a morning go through it …’ That’s lunacy of the first order.”
Kilgore also said that the city has contributed over $3.2 million to TxDOT toward the project and taxpayers have repaid nearly $1.1 million in interest on the debt.
“Our city [and] our residents have borne the financial burden of this issue,” he said.
What’s next
The comment period on the amendments to the Transportation Improvement Program ends Sept. 21.
The CAMPO Transportation Policy Board is anticipated to take action on the amendments at the Oct. 4 meeting.
