Transportation Updates

1. RR 620 improvements A new auxiliary southbound lane on RR 620—from just north of Lohmans Crossing Road to Spillman Loop in Lakeway—is being added. The project also includes adding pavement at several RR 620 intersections, including Falcon Head and Ladera boulevards, to allow a three-lane approach on the west side of the intersections. This configuration will match the east side of these intersections. Timeline: Aug. 8-late fall/early winter Cost: $1.42 million Funding sources: Texas Department of Transportation

2. Wildcat Hollow improvements An improvement project on a 200-foot stretch of Wildcat Hollow began in mid-September, and is due to be completed by mid-October.

West Lake Hills Administrator Robert Wood said the project addresses an erosion issue along the road the city has been monitoring.  The project includes digging into the road to replace a small drainage pipe with a larger drainage culvert. After installation, the road will be repaired, and a small retaining wall will be built to help the road’s long-term stability. Timeline: mid-September-Oct. 21 Cost: $130,000 Funding sources: city of West Lake Hills 3. Loop 360 entrance/exit lanes TxDOT is adding extended entrance and exit lanes on Loop 360 to improve intersections with Walsh Tarlton Lane, the Barton Creek Square Mall entrance, MoPac and the intersection just south of MoPac in Austin. A left-turn lane will also be added on the northbound frontage road of MoPac at Loop 360. Timeline: February 2016-spring 2017 Cost: $6.44 million Funding sources: TxDOT

4. 5. RR 620 intersections TxDOT will add a traffic signal on RR 620 at Dave Drive and a traffic signal at Oak Grove Boulevard in northern Lakeway. Kelli Reyna, TxDOT Austin District public information officer, said the agency routinely studies major intersections to see if signals would be beneficial and determined that the intersections warrant a traffic signal. Timeline:  November-May 2017 Cost: $150,000 for each traffic signal totaling $300,000 Funding sources: TxDOT

6. Traffic signal at Lohmans Crossing Road and Lohmans Spur Construction of a traffic signal at the intersection of Lohmans Crossing Road and Lohmans Spur began in August in Lakeway. City staff was authorized by Lakeway City Council on Feb. 16 to advertise and receive bids for the project.

City Manager Steve Jones said that although few collisions have been recorded at this intersection, more accidents are expected as traffic increases. He said a signal should make Lohmans Spur easier to use, and a traffic study showed a signal was warranted at the intersection. Timeline: April (bids)-fall (completion) Cost: $246,500-$275,000 Funding sources: city of Lakeway Capital Reserve Fund

7. Bee Caves Road upgrades Austin Energy conducted utility work in September in preparation for the start of the Bee Caves Road improvement project that will add a 3-mile-long center turn lane, shoulders and a sidewalk on the road between Redbud Trail and Walsh Tarlton Lane. West Lake Hills Administrator Robert Wood said progress has been made on the project, and TxDOT has not indicated that it will be delayed further. Road construction was expected to start Nov. 1 on the two-year project. Timeline: November 2016-2018 Cost: $29 million Funding sources: TxDOT

[caption id="attachment_191932" align="alignright" width="220"] Flint Rock Rd. widening[/caption]

8. Flint Rock Road Approximately 2 miles of Flint Rock Road—between RR 620 at Lakeway Regional Medical Center and Serene Hills Drive—will be widened, and an asphalt shoulder will be added. According to Lakeway’s engineering department, crews have completed initial paving of the roadway that should prevent road flooding. Timeline: October 2015-First quarter 2017 Cost: $9.2 million total with 47 percent funded by Lakeway and 53 percent funded by Travis County Funding sources: city of Lakeway, Travis County