Round Rock chips away at new north-south road that could relieve congestion

City officials are making progress on building out the vision for a new major arterial roadway that offers drivers another north-south route in Round Rock.

Kenney Fort Boulevard has been a part of the city’s transportation plans since the 1990s. It is envisioned to be a new six-lane roadway running parallel to A.W. Grimes Boulevard and Red Bud Lane and will initially be built between Old Settlers Boulevard and SH 45 N. The city’s long-term plan is to extend the road north to University Boulevard in the next decade, said Gary Hudder, director of the transportation department in Round Rock. Eventually the road will extend to Westinghouse Road as demand arises.

In July, Hudder said the city will seek bids to construct the section that will extend the existing portion of the road south of Forest Creek Drive and connect to SH 45 N.

“A.W. Grimes [Boulevard] is incredibly overloaded during rush hour. Red Bud [Lane] gets incredibly overloaded,” he said. “Having a new arterial ... [is] huge for the community.”

He said the goal is to start construction in the fall, and work will last 18 months. Because the project will cross undeveloped land, construction will be easier than other more complex segments of the road, such as near Joe DiMaggio Boulevard.

Round Rock City Council also approved in April issuing $30 million in certificates of obligation for the city’s Driving Progress transportation plan to fund projects, such as the Kenney Fort extension to SH 45 N.

“It’s going to have a big impact to the congestion that exists [on area roads] today and help manage what’s coming,” Hudder said.