Construction on East Crystal Falls Parkway between Leander Drive and US 183 began Nov. 4, Leander City Engineer Wayne Watts said.

During the past several weeks, contractors hired by the city have been doing preliminary paving work and determining how to relocate some utilities, Watts said. The intersection of Crystal Falls Parkway and US 183 will remain open until mid-May or early June, when drivers will be asked to find detours while crews work inside the railroad crossing right-of-way, he said.

"During construction, sometimes flaggers are used to direct folks down to one lane of traffic, but in this case, drivers would get to their destination quicker by taking a detour on Hero Way, New Hope Drive or an alternate route," he said.

The city hopes to have the 8-week road closure begin after school is out of session, Watts said. The project is expected to be completed in August 2014.

Crews will repave and widen the east-west corridor as well as rebuild curbs, input new drainage systems and add turn lanes. The $1.9 million project is the last portion of a 5-year effort to reconstruct Crystal Falls Parkway.