TRANSPORTATION UPDATES WilCo to issue debt for 2019 road bond
UPCOMING PROJECTS
LEFT TO FINISH Of the eight uncompleted projects that need more funding from the 2019 road bond, ve are in Leander, Georgetown and Liberty Hill.
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Due to rising ination and construction costs, the Williamson County Commissioners Court voted March 7 to issue short-term debt to help tackle eight uncompleted projects from the 2019 road bond. After discussing possibly delaying projects from the bond—a $412 million package meant to fund road construction and expansion—the court approved a cost amount of $237.4 million for the uncompleted projects as well as overage costs on the expansion of the Williamson County Juvenile Detention Center. To help cover those expenses, the county will issue no more than $150 million in tax anticipation notes— which allows government entities to issue debt and repay it with future tax collections—this scal year. Of that amount, $70 million will go to right-of- way purchases, the price of which has skyrocketed, Precinct 2 Commissioner Cynthia Long said. “This is a unique challenge that we’ve not had—at least in the 16 years that I’ve been doing this” Long said.
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2 Hero Way/RM 2243 from 183A Toll to Southwest Bypass 1 CR 175 from RM 2243 to Creek Meadow Cove
South Street & West Drive improvements
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SOUTHWEST BYPASS
This project in Old Town Leander will improve and widen the existing streets into three-lane undivided roads with sidewalks, curbs and gutters. The proj- ect is in the design phase. Timeline: TBD Cost: $7.8 million Funding sources: city of Leander, Capital Metro interlocal agreement funds
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4 CR 214 to connect to US 183 in Liberty Hill 5 Liberty Hill Bypass to connect RM 1869 to CR 279 3 Southeast Inner Loop from Hwy. 29 to Patriot Way
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Ocials said the remaining funding could come from more tax anticipation notes or a future bond, for which a committee was formed March 28. 183 North project contractor outlines upcoming construction SOURCE: WILLIAMSON COUNTYCOMMUNITY IMPACT N N
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US 183 corridor study Stretching 4.4 miles from US 183A to Osage Drive, a study of US 183 in Lean- der will evaluate the existing conditions of the corridor and recommend future intersection improvements, safety zones, bridges and signals. The city is in the process of selecting a consultant to
BY CLAIRE SHOOP
in each direction between MoPac and SH 45. Pat Pluenneke, project director at Great Hills Constructors, the 183 North project’s contractor, said Phase 1 includes working in the center median of the existing road to construct the new express lanes. In February, crews were moving earth to install
drainage, putting roadbase down and widening the inside bridges. At the same time, work on frontage road sidewalks and driveways is underway, he said. Pluenneke said 2023 and 2024 will be “big years” of construction, with construction wrapping up in 2025, and the project opening in 2026.
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With construction on
conduct the study. Timeline: June-TBD Cost: $500,000
the 183 North project entering its second full year, key stakeholders held a community forum Feb. 23 to recap recent progress and highlight upcoming work on the corridor. The $612 million project will add two tolled lanes and a fourth nontolled lane
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Funding sources: city of Leander, Capital Metro interlocal agreement funds
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ALL INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE WAS UPDATED AS OF MARCH 17. NEWS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE OR OTHER LOCAL TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS? EMAIL US AT LCPNEWSCOMMUNITYIMPACT.COM.
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
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