1. Diverging Diamond Interchange
The interchange at I-35 and University Boulevard/FM 1431 opened to traffic in November but was not fully complete until after being repaved in the spring. The interchange aims to relieve traffic by directing left-turning and through traffic to the opposite side of the road and adds lanes.
Status: Project was substantially complete as of November and paving was completed in May.
Timeline: October 2014-May 2016
Cost: $7 million
Funding sources: federal highway funds (80 percent), Texas Department of Transportation (20 percent)
2. Creek Bend Boulevard
The project will extend the existing four-lane, divided roadway over Brushy Creek and Hairy Man Road to connect with Brightwater Boulevard at Wyoming Springs Drive. It will include raised medians, sidewalks and bicycle accommodations. Round Rock officials state the extension will provide a north-south connection over Brushy Creek and reduce reliance on I-35 for motorists on the west side of the city.
Status: Construction on the elevated portion of the road continues on schedule.
Timeline: April 2015-late 2016
Cost: $8.1 million
Funding sources: city of Round Rock
Downtown improvements[/caption]3. Downtown improvements
This project is widening Mays Street from the railroad bridge south of downtown to the Brushy Creek bridge. It also realigned Main Street at its intersection with Mays. The project will also focus on road improvements such as a new center left-turn lane on Mays in downtown. Round Rock Avenue is permanently closed between Blair Street and Mays. The stated goal of the project is to make the downtown area more pedestrian-friendly and destination-oriented.
Status: Construction continues on W. Liberty Avenue at Round Rock Avenue, as well as the west side of Mays. Signal work has begun at Mays/Main and at Mays/Anderson.
Timeline: March 2015-March 2017
Cost: $13.2 million
Funding sources: city of Round Rock, federal grant funds
4. FM 3406/Old Settlers Boulevard
This project will enhance the intersections of FM 3406/Old Settlers Boulevard at Sam Bass Road and Oak Hollow and Bent Tree drives with left-turn lanes on FM 3406 in an attempt to improve safety and traffic flow. FM 3406 will also receive a right-turn lane at the Plantation Drive and Sam Bass intersections. Five-foot shoulders will also be added throughout the project. A pedestrian bridge over the railroad tracks and a sidewalk will also be constructed on the north side of FM 3406.
Status: The pedestrian bridge over the railroad is 95 percent complete. The contractor is working on the roadway widening east of Plantation Drive and plans on paving from Creek Bend to Oak Hollow in early June. This project is scheduled to be complete this summer.
Timeline: August 2015-summer 2016
Cost: $4.7 million
Funding sources: TxDOT, city of Round Rock
Heatherwilde Boulevard widening[/caption]5. Heatherwilde Boulevard widening
This project involves reconstruction and widening of the existing two-lane road into a four-lane, divided roadway with raised medians, turn lanes, drainage improvements, pedestrian facilities and a traffic signal at Kingston Lacy Boulevard. Also included in the project is installation of new wastewater infrastructure and landscaping.
Status: Road crews will close intersections at Wilke Ridge Lane and Great Basin Avenue to through traffic through October 2016.
Timeline: February 2016-mid-2017
Cost: $6.7 million
Funding sources: 2014 Pflugerville bond package
6. FM 685
The project is a major overhaul of FM 685 in Hutto between SH 130 and Hwy. 79. The road will be widened to accommodate shoulders, left-turn lanes and a median from Hwy. 79 to Riverwalk Drive. Two new bridges 12 feet higher than the current bridges will be built over Brushy Creek to reduce flooding of the roadway. The work is intended to improve traffic flow and safety.
Status: Work on the northbound Brushy Creek bridge is underway and the contractor is scheduled to finish all bridge substructure work in the summer. Crews are also working on earthwork near the bridge as well as the pavement north of the bridge. The project is still on track to be complete this November.
Timeline: October 2014-fall 2016
Cost: $11 million
Funding sources: Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, city of Hutto, TxDOT
Carl Stern Drive[/caption]7. Carl Stern Drive
This project will extend Carl Stern Drive west of FM 685 and link it to SH 130. The extension will be built by the developer of Carmel Creek, which is a mixed-use development through which the road will pass. Hutto will reimburse the developer for the cost of the road construction. The portion from FM 685 to Carmel Creek was completed in July. The remaining connection to the SH 130 feeder road is under construction.
Status: The project experienced some delays and is still under construction. The first phase of roadwork that connects to the Trails at Carmel Creek senior living facility is open. The connection to SH 130 should be complete in June or July.
Timeline: summer 2014-summer 2016
Cost: not to exceed $5 million
Funding sources: city of Hutto, private developer
