The roads to Round Rock
Multiple transportation projects are underway in Round Rock in various states of construction ranging from design to near completion. Some roadways may see extensive changes to traffic patterns and added capacity.
79
79
35
SAM BASS RD.
35
UNIVERSITY BLVD.
35
620
1431
3
110
45 TOLL
A.W. GRIMES BLVD.
DEEP WOOD DR.
N
N
N
KENNEY FORT BLVD.
RM 620 Project details: In 2020, crews began transforming RM 620 into two separate two-lane roadways from Deep Wood Drive to I-35 in order to alleviate traffic congestion. Cost: $27.4 million Status: under construction Expected completion: late 2023 1
I-35 Project details: In March 2022, crews began expanding the width of I-35 southbound between Hwy. 79 and SH 45 N. The widening will include an additional merging lane to alleviate traffic congestion. Cost: $8.4 million Status: under construction Expected completion: early 2023 2
University Boulevard Project details: In 2021, Round Rock transportation crews began construction on a project to widen University Boulevard to a six-lane divided arterial with a raised median to remediate congestion and create additional capacity. Cost: $12.6 million Status: under construction Expected completion: spring 2023 3
35
4
6
130 TOLL
79
620
GATTIS SCHOOL RD.
5
1
DEEP WOOD DR.
2
45 TOLL
N SOURCES: CITY OF ROUND ROCK, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION/COMMUNITY IMPACT
to major arterials, such as Gattis School Road and Hwy. 79, is in the works. City crews began working on an $11.1 million expansion of University to six lanes with a median in 2020. Hudder said the project is expected to be completed in April or May. Once completed, University will have capacity for more traffic in the quickly growing area that is home to the Round Rock Premium Outlets and IKEA. The project will also bring improvements for drivers and pedestrians, Hudder said. “The goal is to put a raised median in the entirety of it, which improves safety,” Hudder said. Farther south, crews are working on the construc- tion of Kenney Fort Boulevard Segments 2 and 3, which began in January. These segments will connect SH 45 N to Gattis School Road, with the completed roadway ultimately connecting SH 45 N to University. In October, Round Rock awarded a contract for the final piece of Segment 4 that will fully connect the existing pieces of Kenney Fort south of East Old Settlers Boulevard and north of Forest Creek Drive. Hudder said Kenney Fort is a greenfield project in Round Rock, or one that is constructed on unde- veloped land. “The benefit of that, obviously, is [there will be]
new routes that don’t exist today,” Hudder said. “So it helps us distribute traffic throughout the system more functionally.” While these projects are spearheaded by the city of Round Rock, the Texas Department of Transpor- tation has multiple area projects in the works. TxDOT is continuing construction on roads feed- ing into I-35. The expansion to RM 620, the western gateway to central Round Rock, will see two over- passes constructed over Lake Creek Drive, with a roundabout added at the intersection of the Union Pacific railroad and RM 620 at Chisholm Trail Road. TxDOT Public Information Officer Brad Wheelis said in November crews were making final bridge adjustments to the eastbound overpass, opening it to traffic before the end of the year. Crews are simultane- ously working to construct the western frontage road, which Wheelis said is expected to open in early 2023. According to TxDOT officials, total project costs will be about $27.4 million, with funding coming from the city of Round Rock, Williamson County, the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organiza- tion and TxDOT. A more recent project on the interstate to con- struct an extended entrance and exit lane from Hwy. 79 to SH 45 N to remediate congestion issues on I-35
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Expansions of major arterials underway in Round Rock BY BROOKE SJOBERG As the city of Round Rock experiences large-scale and rapid growth, officials are emphasizing the need to overhaul, upgrade and add to local infrastructure. Round Rock Transportation Director Gary Hudder said key city initiatives including Driving Progress, a substantial local road improvement program, are helping fund several major projects within the city’s Transportation Master Plan. “The large-scale capacity improvements will make a big impact for drivers across our entire community as they continue to come online, and we have several more on the way,” Hudder said. Projects in progress Projects such as University Boulevard and Kenney Fort Boulevard will see additional lanes and new roads constructed in high-traffic areas to allow for higher capacity as planning for improvements
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