TRANSPORTATION
Top transportation stories to watch in 2023
2023 ANNUAL COMMUNITY GUIDE
Planning, design portion of Hero Way improvements project in Leander continues
Work on Phase 3 of 183A Toll progresses
San Gabriel Parkway Phase 2 put on hold
OTHER PROJECTS TO FOLLOW IN 2023
ENHANCING HERO WAY
Design work on a three-phase project to expand and extend Hero Way—also known as RM 2243—will continue throughout 2023.
BY ZACHARIA WASHINGTON
Construction on Phase 3 began in April 2021, and the road is expected to open in early 2025. The project aims to save commut- ers time and eliminate the use of signalized intersections. Phases 1 and 2 of the 183A Toll system extend from RM 620 in Austin to RM 1431 in Cedar Park and from RM 1431 to Hero Way in Leander, respectively. The Mobility Authority will host an informational community event in Leander’s Summerlyn neighbor- hood Feb. 4.
E. NEW HOPE DR.
Construction on the $259 million 183A Toll Phase 3 project located north of Leander was about 40% completed as of December, said Mike Sexton, acting director of engineering at the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority. Structural and concrete work, such as retaining walls and bridges, are being built, and in 2023, work on Hwy. 29 to build a 30-foot-deep underpass will begin. Drivers will begin to see the eects of this construction on Hwy. 29 in early 2023, and it will continue for about a year until work on the highways is com- pleted, Sexton said. Once completed, the 6.6-mile extension from Hero Way to Hwy. 29 will consist of two tolled lanes in each direction located mainly within the existing US 183 median. The project will also include shared-use paths, according to Mobility Authority documents.
Phase 1
RONALD REAGAN BLVD.
BY ZACHARIA WASHINGTON
Construction of one frontage road serving two- way trac
BY ZACHARIA WASHINGTON
other frontage road is built in a future phase, according to the county. Phase 2 of the project will construct the other frontage road, leaving a median in the middle, Long said. The nal phase will include the con- struction of the main lanes in the median space. Long said an example that is similar to the Hero Way project is the 183A Toll project. The Hero Way project is intended to provide better safety, plan for the future of Williamson County and alleviate congestion, according to the county. “Leander’s real focus is this will allow them to solidify the footprint,” Long said. “And they’re hoping that this will open up that area for eco- nomic development for the city. Their focus for that area is not so much residential, but it’s more businesses, so I think that will be a big plus for the Leander portion of the community.” Funded through the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, Williamson County and the city of Leander, the project will cost $68 million with Leander’s portion being $13.9 million. Construction is anticipated to begin at the
City ocials said Phase 2 of the San Gabriel Parkway project, which will connect San Gabriel to Ronald Reagan Boulevard, has been paused due to the city prioritizing water infrastructure. Construction on a water tower adjacent to the Phase 2 right of way will run from April 2023-summer 2024. Subsequently, work on the extension will take place from winter 2024 to summer 2025. The $7.6 million road project funded by the city is intended to provide res- idents in Palmera Ridge and Palmera Blu access to Ronald Reagan.
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The planning and design portion of the Hero Way road improvements project in Leander is anticipated to continue until the end of 2023, Williamson County Commissioner Cynthia Long said. “It’s a regionally signicant project because it’s a major east-west roadway through the heart of our county,” she said. “Leander, in our last bond election, prioritized it as their No. 1 project to partner with the county on.” In a partnership between the Texas Department of Transportation and Williamson County, the work on Hero Way—also known as RM 2243—will include two main lanes going each direction sep- arated by a concrete barrier that will have a direct connection to 183A Toll, Ronald Reagan Boulevard and the Southwest Bypass, according to county documents. Additionally, the roadway will include two three-lane frontage roads with access ramps on either side of the main lanes. The project will be done in three phases with Phase 1 being the construction of a single frontage road, which will serve two-way trac until the
Phase 2
SAM BASS RD.
Construction of second frontage road with a median in between
1431
N
Phase 3
New Hope Drive extension Work intended to connect East New Hope Drive between Ronald Reagan Boulevard and Sam Bass Road in Cedar Park began in mid-October. The 1.8-mile extension began after the city selected Austin Engineering Co. as the project’s contractor in September. Once construction is completed, the new road will be a divided four-lane roadway with a 110-foot right of way, raised medians, trac signals, LED streetlights, bike lanes, sidewalks and stormwater controls. Timeline: October 2022-mid-2024 Cost: about $30 million Funding sources: city of Cedar Park, Williamson County
Construction of the main lanes in the median space
SOUTHWEST BYPASS
2243
RONALD REAGAN BLVD.
183A TOLL
29
183
N
SOURCE: WILLIAMSON COUNTYCOMMUNITY IMPACT
SAN GABRIEL PKWY.
beginning of 2024. “This is an example of the county working in partnership with our cities on projects that will bring safety improvements as well as, especially in Leander’s case, economic development opportuni- ties to the community,” Long said.
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183A TOLL
183A TOLL
183
N
N
CEDAR PARK 13530 Ronald Reagan Blvd (512) 986-7681
NORTH 620 10601 N FM 620 (512) 506-8316
HYMEADOW 12611 Hymeadow (512) 506-8401
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