Transportation Updates




Transportation Updates Little Elm Trail extension[/caption]

1. Little Elm Trail extension
The city of Cedar Park is continuing to fill existing gaps on Little Elm Trail between Lakeline Boulevard and US 183. The project includes right-turn lanes on southbound US 183, Lakeline and the existing portion of Little Elm. On Sept. 1, the road base, curb and gutter, sidewalk and first layer of asphalt through the Red Oaks subdivision was completed between Alexis Drive and Juliette Way, said Jennie Huerta, media and communications manager with the city of Cedar Park. The roadway will not be open to traffic until the end of the project, when all lanes will receive a new layer of asphalt and fresh striping. Between Lakeline and Juliette, the road bed is being prepared over the underground utilities. The right-turn deceleration lane on southbound US 183 at Little Elm is complete and awaiting approval by the Texas Department of Transportation to open for traffic, Huerta said.


Timeline: December 2015-early 2017
Cost: $7.06 million
Funding sources: city of Cedar Park ($2.98 million); Cedar Park Community Development Corp., also known as the 4B Board ($550,000); Williamson County ($3.53 million)


2. East Whitestone Boulevard pass-through project
The city of Cedar Park, TxDOT and Williamson County are collaborating on a project to rebuild East Whitestone Boulevard into a six-lane, divided roadway between Market Street and CR 175/Sam Bass Road. The project also includes a new intersection at Whitestone and Parmer Lane/Ronald Reagan Boulevard, which opened as a continuous-flow intersection Aug. 2. Additional work continues on RM 1431 between Parmer and Sam Bass, and the anticipated completion is in late September, Huerta said.


Timeline: August 2014-September 2016
Cost: $22 million
Funding sources: city of Cedar Park (TxDOT will reimburse 80 percent of actual construction costs), Williamson County


3. Cypress Creek Road/Lakeline Boulevard intersection upgrades
The project includes extended dual left-turn lanes and widened existing left- and right-turn lanes on north- and southbound Lakeline Boulevard, which includes adding a lane to a bridge on Lakeline. On Sept. 1, Huerta said the project was substantially complete, and minor closeout work would be completed in the upcoming weeks.


Timeline: June 2015-September 2016
Cost: $2.2 million
Funding sources: city of Cedar Park, Williamson County


4. North Bagdad Road expansion
Construction crews will widen North Bagdad Road from two to five lanes, which includes a center turn lane, between Old FM 2243 and Collaborative Way in Leander. City Engineer Wayne Watts said as drivers travel north on Bagdad, the road will transition from five to three lanes, then it will transition to two lanes north of San Gabriel Parkway. The project will also include new storm sewers, sidewalks and utilities on both sides of the road. Watts said the project is expected to go out for bid in September, but the sidewalk project will be bid upon separately because the county obtains funds for it from the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization. The city recently heard feedback from TxDOT on a review of the sidewalk project, Watts said.


Timeline: late September or early October 2016-March 2018
Cost: $13 million (estimated)
Funding sources: city of Leander, Williamson County




Transportation Updates Old FM 2243[/caption]

5. Old FM 2243
The city of Leander is widening Old FM 2243 from two to five lanes, including a center lane, between US 183 and a location west of North Lakeline Boulevard. On Sept. 1, Watts said construction crews were continuing to finalize the locations of dry utilities, though crews could be delayed three weeks due to fiber-optic cable damage with AT&T facilities. He said construction crews are preparing for the installation of the base of the road on the east and west ends of the project and are working around any remaining dry utility interferences. Watts said crews may work on the intersection at Bagdad and FM 2243 in two segments instead of four, which should make up for any delay.


Timeline: Jan. 4, 2016-October or November 2017
Cost: $24 million (estimated)
Funding sources: city of Leander, Williamson County (50 percent or up to $9.15 million)


6. East Crystal Falls Parkway turn lane
The project includes building a dedicated right-turn lane at the west side of the intersection of East Crystal Falls Parkway and US 183. The lane will be built for drivers heading east and turning southbound onto US 183. Watts said the city would be advertising the project and opening it up for bidding in September, and a contract would be awarded in October. He said construction could start in November, and the city plans for the construction phase to last about 120 days.


Timeline: November 2016-February or March 2017
Cost: $450,000
Funding source: city of Leander


Transportation Updates