A temporarily stalled roadway project intended to alleviate RM 620 traffic in Round Rock and North Austin is again under way with a new construction firm.

Construction on Phase 2 of the O'Connor Drive roadway extension, which is designed to link RM 620 and SH 45 N, has been on hold since December because of the default and bankruptcy of the original contractor, Ballenger Construction, according to the Texas Department of Transportation. TxDOT, however, announced March 21 that Zachry Construction Corp. of San Antonio had been hired to complete the project.

TxDOT Public Information Officer Kelli Reyna said construction on the O'Connor Drive project resumed April 1. Zachry Construction spokesman Jason Syptak said the company hoped to have the project completed within "the first quarter" of 2014. The originally scheduled completion date of the project was for December 2013.

"We appreciate the public's patience and look forward to getting back to work on this project," said Michael McKissick, an engineer for TxDOT's North Travis Area Office. "TxDOT worked with the [bonding] company to get the affected project moving as quickly as possible while maintaining the safety of the construction zone."

The O'Connor Drive project is a joint effort between Williamson County and TxDOT intended to offer alternative transit options for motorists in North Austin and Southeast Round Rock. Williamson County Commissioner Lisa Birkman said the county hopes the project will alleviate traffic on RM 620 through the Brushy Creek Municipal Utility District and along Deepwood Drive, which motorists often use as a cut-through to reach the La Frontera Shopping Center.

"That section of [RM 620] has four to five times more cars [on it] than it was designed for, depending on the time of day and where you are," Birkman said. "Due to congestion there, people have asked for another way to get to [SH 45 N] so that they won't have to use [RM 620]. This will provide that connection. It will allow people to get to Austin and the south section of Round Rock quicker."

Williamson County funded and has completed the four-lane divided road section of O'Connor Drive from RM 620 to just north of SH 45 N at a cost of $6 million. The roadway is currently open between RM 620 and Great Oaks Drive.

The remaining work needed to complete the project includes building connector roads between O'Connor Drive and McNeil Road and entrance and exit ramps for SH 45 N and Loop 1. The cost of the connector roads and toll ramps is budgeted at $25 million, with 75 percent of the funding coming from TxDOT and the remainder from Williamson County.

Birkman and Reyna both confirmed that the construction delay and switch of contractors will not add any cost to the project for taxpayers.

"When you have a big job like this, the state and county both require that you have a bond," Birkman said. "If the construction company doesn't complete the job, the bonding company has to complete it for the price. It is like an insurance thing. They ensure that it will be done for the price so the customer doesn't get left paying extra."

O'Connor Drive extension/toll interchange

The O'Connor Drive extension and toll interchange project is a joint venture between the Texas Department of Transportation and Williamson County to alleviate traffic on RM 620 by opening new connections to SH 45 N, Loop 1 and McNeil Road. Phase 1 of the project, an extension of O'Connor Drive from RM 620 to Great Oaks Drive, was completed in 2012. Phase 2, which will include toll road entrance and exit ramps and feeder roads connecting O'Connor Drive and McNeil Road, has been delayed since December, but is again under way and expected to be complete by early 2014.