I happened to come across the county 2035 plan map and was surprised by the number of proposed controlled access highways. They must expect the area to be the next "Inland Empire" :
https://i.imgur.com/r7cYOOa_d.webp?maxwidth=640&shape=thumb&fidelity=medium
That map is dated March of 2016. How many of proposed controlled access highways have they started on in the last 5 years?
That's an interesting map. The updated version of the map on the Williamson County web site, approved 7/21/2020, still has all the controlled access corridors.
https://www.wilco.org/language/es-mx/Departments/Infrastructure/County-Engineer-Road-and-Bridge/Long-Range-Transportation-Plan (https://www.wilco.org/language/es-mx/Departments/Infrastructure/County-Engineer-Road-and-Bridge/Long-Range-Transportation-Plan)
Realistically, very of those controlled access routes will ever be built. That map would have been better titled "Conceptual map of potential controlled access facilities"
The only new controlled access highways that were moving forward until recently were FM 2243 between IH-35 and US 183, and the adjacent section of the Southwest bypass. FM 2243 was about to have its frontage roads built, but then the funding was shifted to IH-35, and I don't know its current status. It seems to be suspended indefinitely. One side of the frontage roads on a short section of the Southwest bypass recently opened, and the right-of-way for the full corridor is visible in aerial views.
Many of the routes in the map make no sense due to their proximity to other routes, for example FM 734 being so close to US 183A, and FM 2243 and FM 1431 serving the same directional movement so close together.
I'd be interested to know if Williamson County is securing right-of-way for any of those routes other than the Southwest Bypass and FM 2243. It takes a lot of money to buy up all the right-of-way. Just consider Collin County (north Dallas), where they've been busy for 10+ years (and spending a lot of money) to get ROW for a section of the Collin County Outer Loop.
Quote from: PastTense on June 11, 2021, 08:04:39 PM
That map is dated March of 2016. How many of proposed controlled access highways have they started on in the last 5 years?
5 years isn't that long ago, but ROW acquisition already started and construction set to begin this year on this highway:
https://www.wilco.org/Departments/Infrastructure/Projects/Precinct-4/Southeast-Loop
Quote from: MaxConcrete on June 11, 2021, 09:58:53 PM
That's an interesting map. The updated version of the map on the Williamson County web site, approved 7/21/2020, still has all the controlled access corridors.
https://www.wilco.org/language/es-mx/Departments/Infrastructure/County-Engineer-Road-and-Bridge/Long-Range-Transportation-Plan (https://www.wilco.org/language/es-mx/Departments/Infrastructure/County-Engineer-Road-and-Bridge/Long-Range-Transportation-Plan)
Realistically, very of those controlled access routes will ever be built. That map would have been better titled "Conceptual map of potential controlled access facilities"
The only new controlled access highways that were moving forward until recently were FM 2243 between IH-35 and US 183, and the adjacent section of the Southwest bypass. FM 2243 was about to have its frontage roads built, but then the funding was shifted to IH-35, and I don't know its current status. It seems to be suspended indefinitely. One side of the frontage roads on a short section of the Southwest bypass recently opened, and the right-of-way for the full corridor is visible in aerial views.
Many of the routes in the map make no sense due to their proximity to other routes, for example FM 734 being so close to US 183A, and FM 2243 and FM 1431 serving the same directional movement so close together.
I'd be interested to know if Williamson County is securing right-of-way for any of those routes other than the Southwest Bypass and FM 2243. It takes a lot of money to buy up all the right-of-way. Just consider Collin County (north Dallas), where they've been busy for 10+ years (and spending a lot of money) to get ROW for a section of the Collin County Outer Loop.
The Southeast Bypass around Hutto is moving forward. Not sure how COVID impacted it, but they were in ROW acquisition phase as of the last update I posted above. I live about 5 minutes from where it will connect to 130, so I'll keep an eye out for any construction activity.
University Blvd/Chandler Rd already has the ROW to be a limited access highway, so no need there unless they decided to build it all the way to I-35:
https://goo.gl/maps/rr48VhQVM59MPgJa7
Interesting, I just looked at Google Satellite image of the proposed Southeast Loop route and the ROW has already been cleared (the Google images appear to be taken in the last 2-3 months). These houses aren't that old, maybe 15+ years? Now I know why the church to the east is building a new location farther back from the road.
https://i.imgur.com/Ea8dm1P_d.webp?maxwidth=640&shape=thumb&fidelity=medium
https://goo.gl/maps/Kri9E5CaeSVLi8cN9
I looked more closely at the Williamson County web site, and there is wealth of information about future road improvements.
Four of the proposed controlled-access corridors have preliminary schematics.
- FM 2243
- Southeast loop https://www.wilco.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=sCRSUCOCdnw%3d&tabid=1553&portalid=0&mid=8328 (https://www.wilco.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=sCRSUCOCdnw%3d&tabid=1553&portalid=0&mid=8328)
- Corridor F, which is the continued northward extension of US 183
- Corridor C, SH 29 bypass, from SH 130 southeast of Georgetown, going in a northeast direction to SH 29
If only these four projects actually get built (and none of the other controlled access projects move forward), it will be a big benefit to future long-term mobility of Williamson county. Of course, the right-of-way needs to be secured or protected now to be able to get these projects done sometime in the future.
I discovered that a public meeting was just held for the RM 2243 project
https://www.wilco.org/rm2243 (https://www.wilco.org/rm2243)
The schematic for this public meeting is basically the same as the schematic presented by TxDOT in 2018. According to the project web page, phase 1 consists of construction of one side of the frontage roads and is slated to start work in late 2022. There's no mention of this project on the TxDOT letting schedule, but late 2022 is FY 2023, and the TxDOT schedule only goes through FY 2022.
(https://www.wilco.org/portals/0/Departments/Infrastructure/Roadbond/Documents/RM2243/projectmap.png)
(https://www.wilco.org/portals/0/Departments/Infrastructure/Corridors/Corridor%20C/Corridor%20C%20Map_20200104.png)
(https://www.wilco.org/portals/0/Departments/Infrastructure/Roadbond/Documents/Corridor%20F/Corridor%20F_Branded%20Map.png)
Quote from: MaxConcrete on June 12, 2021, 11:11:51 AM
I looked more closely at the Williamson County web site, and there is wealth of information about future road improvements.
Four of the proposed controlled-access corridors have preliminary schematics.
- FM 2243
- Southeast loop https://www.wilco.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=sCRSUCOCdnw%3d&tabid=1553&portalid=0&mid=8328 (https://www.wilco.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=sCRSUCOCdnw%3d&tabid=1553&portalid=0&mid=8328)
Thanks! I found some more detailed schematics as I couldn't figure out if the road would be completely limited access, looks like it will be...at least for the first segments:
https://www.wilco.org/Portals/0/Departments/Infrastructure/Corridors/20200417-SoutheastLoop-PublicUltimateFinalSchematicRollPlot1of2.pdf?ver=2020-04-20-164839-207
https://www.wilco.org/Portals/0/Departments/Infrastructure/Corridors/20200417-SoutheastLoop-PublicUltimateFinalSchematicRollPlot2of2.pdf?ver=2020-04-20-165042-527
[/list]
Quote from: thisdj78 on June 12, 2021, 01:31:58 AM
Interesting, I just looked at Google Satellite image of the proposed Southeast Loop route and the ROW has already been cleared (the Google images appear to be taken in the last 2-3 months). These houses aren't that old, maybe 15+ years? Now I know why the church to the east is building a new location farther back from the road.
https://i.imgur.com/Ea8dm1P_d.webp?maxwidth=640&shape=thumb&fidelity=medium
https://goo.gl/maps/Kri9E5CaeSVLi8cN9
I travel this route quite often. A direct route from Toll 130 to FM 1660 would be a great improvement over the current inadequate county roads. With all the explosive growth in Williamson county it will be a challenge to keep up with traffic demands. In short, no matter what they do they cannot build it fast enough.
Quote from: SquonkHunter on June 13, 2021, 12:08:52 PM
Quote from: thisdj78 on June 12, 2021, 01:31:58 AM
Interesting, I just looked at Google Satellite image of the proposed Southeast Loop route and the ROW has already been cleared (the Google images appear to be taken in the last 2-3 months). These houses aren't that old, maybe 15+ years? Now I know why the church to the east is building a new location farther back from the road.
https://i.imgur.com/Ea8dm1P_d.webp?maxwidth=640&shape=thumb&fidelity=medium
https://goo.gl/maps/Kri9E5CaeSVLi8cN9
I travel this route quite often. A direct route from Toll 130 to FM 1660 would be a great improvement over the current inadequate county roads. With all the explosive growth in Williamson county it will be a challenge to keep up with traffic demands. In short, no matter what they do they cannot build it fast enough.
I'm glad to see the county at least try to plan for it. They have a lot more limited access highways planned than Travis County does.
Reminds me of the 1966 DFW freeway plan: just draw lines on a map to see what sticks
Quote from: thisdj78 on June 13, 2021, 12:29:10 PM
Quote from: SquonkHunter on June 13, 2021, 12:08:52 PM
Quote from: thisdj78 on June 12, 2021, 01:31:58 AM
Interesting, I just looked at Google Satellite image of the proposed Southeast Loop route and the ROW has already been cleared (the Google images appear to be taken in the last 2-3 months). These houses aren't that old, maybe 15+ years? Now I know why the church to the east is building a new location farther back from the road.
https://i.imgur.com/Ea8dm1P_d.webp?maxwidth=640&shape=thumb&fidelity=medium
https://goo.gl/maps/Kri9E5CaeSVLi8cN9
I travel this route quite often. A direct route from Toll 130 to FM 1660 would be a great improvement over the current inadequate county roads. With all the explosive growth in Williamson county it will be a challenge to keep up with traffic demands. In short, no matter what they do they cannot build it fast enough.
I'm glad to see the county at least try to plan for it. They have a lot more limited access highways planned than Travis County does.
Williamson County is the (conservative) northern suburbs to Austin and Travis County. It is much like Collin and Denton Counties to Dallas / Ft Worth or Galveston or Montgomery Counties to Houston. Austin is against a lot. Round Rock and Williamson County are ready to do what it takes to grow and to move to and from that growth.
Construction on $87 million in work on the Southeast Loop at US 79 is slated for bidding in February.
https://www.dot.state.tx.us/insdtdot/orgchart/cmd/cserve/let/2022/williamson.htm#348601008 (https://www.dot.state.tx.us/insdtdot/orgchart/cmd/cserve/let/2022/williamson.htm#348601008)
TxDOT has a posting for the EA and Williamson County has more info on their site. The planned project will build 2 miles of frontage roads on a 350-foot-wide corridor. The frontage roads will go over US 79.
https://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/get-involved/about/hearings-meetings/austin/100421.html (https://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/get-involved/about/hearings-meetings/austin/100421.html)
https://www.wilco.org/FM3349 (https://www.wilco.org/FM3349)
According to this page, there is already some minor work in progress further west (separate from this project)
https://www.wilco.org/Departments/Infrastructure/Projects/Precinct-4/Southeast-Loop (https://www.wilco.org/Departments/Infrastructure/Projects/Precinct-4/Southeast-Loop)
This work is immediately west and mostly alongside the proposed site for the planned $17 billion Samsung semiconductor factory (which is on the south side of US 79). So I'm thinking this project may be contingent on Samsung selecting that site. I'm hoping it moves forward regardless of Samsung's decision.
If Samsung does select the site, I'm thinking the section of the Southeast Loop connecting to SH 130 will need to be built as soon as possible to provide access to the facility.
Quote from: MaxConcrete on October 06, 2021, 07:03:34 PM
Construction on $87 million in work on the Southeast Loop at US 79 is slated for bidding in February.
https://www.dot.state.tx.us/insdtdot/orgchart/cmd/cserve/let/2022/williamson.htm#348601008 (https://www.dot.state.tx.us/insdtdot/orgchart/cmd/cserve/let/2022/williamson.htm#348601008)
TxDOT has a posting for the EA and Williamson County has more info on their site. The planned project will build 2 miles of frontage roads on a 350-foot-wide corridor. The frontage roads will go over US 79.
https://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/get-involved/about/hearings-meetings/austin/100421.html (https://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/get-involved/about/hearings-meetings/austin/100421.html)
https://www.wilco.org/FM3349 (https://www.wilco.org/FM3349)
According to this page, there is already some minor work in progress further west (separate from this project)
https://www.wilco.org/Departments/Infrastructure/Projects/Precinct-4/Southeast-Loop (https://www.wilco.org/Departments/Infrastructure/Projects/Precinct-4/Southeast-Loop)
This work is immediately west and mostly alongside the proposed site for the planned $17 billion Samsung semiconductor factory (which is on the south side of US 79). So I'm thinking this project may be contingent on Samsung selecting that site. I'm hoping it moves forward regardless of Samsung's decision.
If Samsung does select the site, I'm thinking the section of the Southeast Loop connecting to SH 130 will need to be built as soon as possible to provide access to the facility.
I live 2 minutes from the intersection of 130 and the future SE loop. Work has already started...ROW has been cleared in the neighborhood it will pass by and looks like utility relocation work is being done now.
The Kenney Fort south Extension to 45 Toll started a few weeks ago. They have been working on clearing trees so far. When I get a chance I'll take some photos:
https://www.roundrocktexas.gov/transportprojects/kenney-fort-boulevard-segments-2-3/
Here's images of the Kenney Fort Extension work at Gattis School
rd. First pic is facing south towards 45Toll, second pic facing north:
(https://i.ibb.co/M6vLYTV/F04-C8-B87-4-F6-E-47-C9-BF70-DC2-C20-D501-D4.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/zm7gqsC/D59-EC012-6840-4-DA3-A275-F122-C746-D1-E7.jpg)
Land clearing for the SouthEast Loop in Hutto and the Kenney Fort extension in Round Rock are showing on Google Maps now:
https://goo.gl/maps/BJcroctqNPwaQJp8A
https://goo.gl/maps/VZJwct1PtQJNusaFA
https://www.fox7austin.com/news/new-major-roadway-growth-north-williamson-county
I was driving through the area near the Samsung construction zone, and I saw a tent with a group of people at FM 3343. It turned out it was the official groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the FM 3343 overpass. I missed the main event, but there was still some activity and I took these photos.
When leaving the event I saw a car-carrier with a load of Teslas going to a parking lot on the southeast corner of the intersection. That parking lot is the site where Teslas are loaded onto trains.
http://dallasfreeways.com/dfwfreeways/AARoads/20221026-austin_023-1600.JPG (http://dallasfreeways.com/dfwfreeways/AARoads/20221026-austin_023-1600.JPG)
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdallasfreeways.com%2Fdfwfreeways%2FAARoads%2F20221026-austin_023-1600.JPG&hash=68d6768231292c7af39e6466cf8e3f5ae1e8af10)
http://dallasfreeways.com/dfwfreeways/AARoads/20221026-austin_019-1600.JPG (http://dallasfreeways.com/dfwfreeways/AARoads/20221026-austin_019-1600.JPG)
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdallasfreeways.com%2Fdfwfreeways%2FAARoads%2F20221026-austin_019-1600.JPG&hash=4e9c84defab6105015172e447437213888743543)
Quote from: MaxConcrete on October 27, 2022, 10:46:24 AM
I was driving through the area near the Samsung construction zone, and I saw a tent with a group of people at FM 3343. It turned out it was the official groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the FM 3343 overpass. I missed the main event, but there was still some activity and I took these photos.
When leaving the event I saw a car-carrier with a load of Teslas going to a parking lot on the southeast corner of the intersection. That parking lot is the site where Teslas are loaded onto trains.
http://dallasfreeways.com/dfwfreeways/AARoads/20221026-austin_023-1600.JPG (http://dallasfreeways.com/dfwfreeways/AARoads/20221026-austin_023-1600.JPG)
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdallasfreeways.com%2Fdfwfreeways%2FAARoads%2F20221026-austin_023-1600.JPG&hash=68d6768231292c7af39e6466cf8e3f5ae1e8af10)
http://dallasfreeways.com/dfwfreeways/AARoads/20221026-austin_019-1600.JPG (http://dallasfreeways.com/dfwfreeways/AARoads/20221026-austin_019-1600.JPG)
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdallasfreeways.com%2Fdfwfreeways%2FAARoads%2F20221026-austin_019-1600.JPG&hash=4e9c84defab6105015172e447437213888743543)
Nice! I live 10 minutes from there. It's interesting because that area where you saw the Teslas, was originally rumored to be the location of their factory. When they selected the current location near Del Valle, I immediately thought about how far it was from any major rail yards. But I guess they just truck them up to Hutto/Taylor.
Glad to see progress on that corridor, though US79 really needs to be limited-access from Toll 130 to Taylor.
https://www.pflugervilletx.gov/Home/Components/News/News/9142/1030?backlist=/&fbclid=IwAR3DrtJHgpti0mxzt-NShrCObOpvGDO9AdTcDwlMYx94BlYTX73Fw4i29aM&mibextid=Zxz2cZ
"Road near Samsung site in Taylor officially named "˜Samsung Highway'...." :
https://www.kxan.com/news/local/williamson-county/road-near-samsung-site-in-taylor-officially-named-samsung-highway/
Ronald Reagan bridge intersection at RR 2338 is completed. Still waiting for TxDot to expand Ronald Reagan to four lanes from 29 to I-35. The land along side it is exploding with developement.
Quote from: longhorn on December 30, 2022, 10:35:40 AM
Ronald Reagan bridge intersection at RR 2338 is completed. Still waiting for TxDot to expand Ronald Reagan to four lanes from 29 to I-35. The land along side it is exploding with developement.
Cool, never knew what project was going on. Is it a full freeway width bridge?
https://www.google.com/maps/@30.7404785,-97.801556,3a,75y,160.36h,92.41t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s-fEtAUo1RY4vq2nnbs9ggw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192
Its completed now, and only two lanes.
Quote from: MaxConcrete on October 27, 2022, 10:46:24 AM
I was driving through the area near the Samsung construction zone, and I saw a tent with a group of people at FM 3343. It turned out it was the official groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the FM 3343 overpass. I missed the main event, but there was still some activity and I took these photos.
When leaving the event I saw a car-carrier with a load of Teslas going to a parking lot on the southeast corner of the intersection. That parking lot is the site where Teslas are loaded onto trains.
I just looked at the long term schematic for this intersection, looks pretty clear that they intend for US79 to be a full freeway between Hutto and Taylor:
https://www.wilco.org/Portals/0/Departments/Infrastructure/Roadbond/Documents/FM3349/20200910-FM3349-Final_Ultimate.pdf?ver=2020-09-14-152659-823
According to this document, construction will start mid-2024 to fill the frontage road gap on SH45:
https://www.pflugervilletx.gov/home/showpublishedimage/14665/637981636123370000
I know no one can predict the future, but I have a feeling that building the TX 45 frontage roads between FM 1626 and Interstate 35 will be the last portion of the highway that is ever constructed. I get the sense that trying to complete the full 45 beltway around Austin will be very difficult, if not impossible.
Quote from: The Ghostbuster on March 01, 2023, 01:19:19 PM
I know no one can predict the future, but I have a feeling that building the TX 45 frontage roads between FM 1626 and Interstate 35 will be the last portion of the highway that is ever constructed. I get the sense that trying to complete the full 45 beltway around Austin will be very difficult, if not impossible.
I could see it being extended west from 1826 to US290 (it's actually in the 2045 Master Plan) or
maybe even up to SH71. But the gap between US183 and SH71 never will, which is unfortunate because that is the corridor that needs a limited access highway the most.
Once the Southern leg of TX-45 is completed across I-35 (filling the unbuilt gap between FM-1626 and I-35) it will create a better possibility of extending the West end of TX-45 out to meet up with the US-290 corridor. The US-290 corridor itself will have to be upgraded to Interstate standards in some manner at least out to the US-281 corridor, if not all the way out to I-10.
But, yeah, there's no chance of TX-45 actually becoming a complete loop around Austin. TX-360 on Austin's West side is the only one with a shot at being gradually upgraded to full controlled access (one intersection at a time). Farther West it's a lot of upper class towns & neighborhoods (Bee Cave, The Hills, Lakeway, Briarcliff, etc). If anyone tries to make a bypass to the West of all that stuff they're going to be on the door step of US-281.
Quote from: Bobby5280 on March 01, 2023, 05:00:07 PM
Once the Southern leg of TX-45 is completed across I-35 (filling the unbuilt gap between FM-1626 and I-35) it will create a better possibility of extending the West end of TX-45 out to meet up with the US-290 corridor. The US-290 corridor itself will have to be upgraded to Interstate standards in some manner at least out to the US-281 corridor, if not all the way out to I-10.
But, yeah, there's no chance of TX-45 actually becoming a complete loop around Austin. TX-360 on Austin's West side is the only one with a shot at being gradually upgraded to full controlled access (one intersection at a time). Farther West it's a lot of upper class towns & neighborhoods (Bee Cave, The Hills, Lakeway, Briarcliff, etc). If anyone tries to make a bypass to the West of all that stuff they're going to be on the door step of US-281.
What's interesting is that they are actually planning to build a grade separated intersection on 620 at Anderson Mill. Just that intersection alone will require a lot of property to be acquired for ROW:
https://ftp.txdot.gov/pub/txdot/get-involved/aus/rm620-anderson-mill/082621-schematic.pdf
That is interesting. But the end result will be a bit odd since it would leave about a mile long non-freeway/toll-road gap from the West side of the TX-45/US-183 interchange. Farther South along RM-620 they might be able to do a couple more grade separations at intersections. It would be a miracle if they could push a freeway as far South as Mansfield Dam. On the other side of the dam, going down toward Bee Cave, I think that road in its current configuration is as good as it's going to get.
Quote from: Bobby5280 on March 02, 2023, 03:15:53 PM
That is interesting. But the end result will be a bit odd since it would leave about a mile long non-freeway/toll-road gap from the West side of the TX-45/US-183 interchange. Farther South along RM-620 they might be able to do a couple more grade separations at intersections. It would be a miracle if they could push a freeway as far South as Mansfield Dam. On the other side of the dam, going down toward Bee Cave, I think that road in its current configuration is as good as it's going to get.
The 2045 plan shows it eventually being completely limited access between Anderson Ln and 183 but I haven't seen any details or schematics on that last segment:
https://www.statesman.com/story/news/local/lake-travis-view/2019/07/18/2-major-corridors-near-lake-travis-could-be-reversible-in-2045/4665665007/
Williamson County announces Segment 1 of Samsung Highway open
https://www.kxan.com/news/local/williamson-county/williamson-county-announces-segment-1-of-samsung-highway-open/
Quote from: thisdj78 on October 17, 2023, 07:53:34 AM
Williamson County announces Segment 1 of Samsung Highway open
https://www.kxan.com/news/local/williamson-county/williamson-county-announces-segment-1-of-samsung-highway-open/
It appears that the project mentioned in the article is the segment colored dark blue in the map. The green route is a planned future freeway, but is starting small with only one side of frontage roads being built. I don't know the status of the work on the frontage road going toward SH 130.
(https://www.statesman.com/gcdn/authoring/authoring-images/2023/10/20/NAAS/71247983007-complete-samsung-highway-map.JPG)
Quote from: MaxConcrete on October 20, 2023, 10:58:27 PM
Quote from: thisdj78 on October 17, 2023, 07:53:34 AM
Williamson County announces Segment 1 of Samsung Highway open
https://www.kxan.com/news/local/williamson-county/williamson-county-announces-segment-1-of-samsung-highway-open/
It appears that the project mentioned in the article is the segment colored dark blue in the map. The green route is a planned future freeway, but is starting small with only one side of frontage roads being built. I don't know the status of the work on the frontage road going toward SH 130.
(https://www.statesman.com/gcdn/authoring/authoring-images/2023/10/20/NAAS/71247983007-complete-samsung-highway-map.JPG)
The section from Toll 130 to CR137 opened this past week (link below).
Interestingly enough, they refer to it as the East Wilco highway, but up until last week, we've been referring to it as the Southeast Loop. Segment 3 intersection at US79 is currently under construction, was it you that was there shortly after the ground breaking or someone else?
https://www.kxan.com/news/local/williamson-county/williamson-county-opens-first-segment-of-east-wilco-highway/
TxDOT is soliciting a consultant (https://www.txdot.gov/business/peps/opportunities/meetings/pre-rfp-meeting-schematicenvironmentalpse-sep-sh29-corridor-austin-district.html) for SH 29 from IH 35 westward about 26 miles to Bertram.
All of this corridor except a short section near IH 35 is slated to be a freeway in the Williamson County long range plan (https://www.wilcotx.gov/656/Long-Range-Transportation-Plan).
However, the meeting presentation (https://www.txdot.gov/content/dam/docs/business/peps/meetings/fy2024/11-15-23-presentation.pdf) does not give any indication of the ultimate design standard (freeway or less) for any part of the corridor.
The Williamson County plan shows a bypass to the south of Liberty Hill. There is no indication of a bypass in the TxDOT presentation, but the Liberty Hill section is designated as a separate section (see page 28), with the work scope not including schematic. I don't know what that means, because if a bypass is being considered, I would expect schematics to be in the scope of work.
I suppose we'll find out more in about 2 years when the process reaches the point of public meetings.
I wouldn't expect any of TX-29 between Liberty Hill and I-35 to be upgraded to an Interstate-quality freeway. They would have better luck concentrating on Ronald Reagan Blvd (where at least some efforts have been made to preserve room for expansion). Even to the West of Liberty Hill to Bertran there is quite a bit of development alongside existing TX-29.
If the ultimate plan is an East-West freeway/tollway connection from US-281/Burnet to I-35/Georgetown pretty much the whole thing would need to be built on a new terrain route, except for the portion that can overlap Ronald Reagan Blvd. At least that would provide a do-able connection into I-35.
Williamson county needed to start on Ronald Reagan expansion yesterday.
Quote from: Bobby5280 on November 20, 2023, 09:37:35 PM
I wouldn't expect any of TX-29 between Liberty Hill and I-35 to be upgraded to an Interstate-quality freeway. They would have better luck concentrating on Ronald Reagan Blvd (where at least some efforts have been made to preserve room for expansion). Even to the West of Liberty Hill to Bertran there is quite a bit of development alongside existing TX-29.
If the ultimate plan is an East-West freeway/tollway connection from US-281/Burnet to I-35/Georgetown pretty much the whole thing would need to be built on a new terrain route, expect for the portion that can overlap Ronald Reagan Blvd. At least that would provide a do-able connection into I-35.
The RM 2243 freeway draft environmental assessment (https://ftp.txdot.gov/pub/txdot/get-involved/aus/rm2243/042523-rm2243-draft-ea.pdf) was completed in March. RM 2243 runs generally parallel to SH 29 and is only 2-3 miles south of SH 29, so building a freeway on both corridors would be somewhat redundant. As always, money is limited, especially with the IH 35 rebuild consuming most available funds in the Austin district. A freeway on RM 2243 should be able to meet east-west travel needs east of SH 183. There is a better justification for an SH 29 freeway west of SH 183.
I still hope for SH 29 freeway status as indicated in the Williamson County long-range plan. Eventually we'll find out what TxDOT has in mind (and can afford).
- Wonder if this would get a Texas/State Highway designation iso a FM road when built?
- Ku Klux Klan Cave along the route???
Williamson County holds groundbreaking for Corridor C, Hwy. 29 Bypass project
https://communityimpact.com/austin/georgetown/transportation/2023/09/29/williamson-county-holds-groundbreaking-for-corridor-c-hwy-29-bypass-project/