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RM 620 turnaround bridge now open

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By Rob Heidrick Friday, 03 July 2009

Neighborhood, business concerns prompted Texas Department of Transportation project

Will the new turnaround bridge at RM 620 and IH 35 make a difference in your daily commute?

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Current TxDOT projects

A new turnaround bridge opened to traffic June 17 at IH 35 and RM 620 in Round Rock. The structure allows northbound drivers to avoid traffic signals at the intersection when making southbound U-turns.

The turnaround was designed to relieve congestion that worsened at the intersection when the exit and entrance ramps at IH 35 and McNeil Road closed in late 2006. Neighborhood residents and business owners raised concern that the closures would cut off access to areas between Toll 45 and RM 620 and cause delays at stoplights along the frontage road.

Williamson County commissioners Lisa Birkman and Valerie Covey celebrate the opening of the RM 620 turnaround at IH 35 June 17. Photo courtesy TxDOT

“It made it difficult for people to get on and off the freeway and get home,” Round Rock Mayor Pro Tem Joe Clifford said. “But if you look at what’s gone on since then, it’s alleviated a lot of the concerns people had, and it got done quickly.”

Mike Freeman, president of the Round Rock West Neighborhood Association when the project began, said the Texas Department of Transportation installed the turnaround bridge in response to the community’s input.

“It was a direct result of the neighborhood getting involved,” Freeman said. “It’s a great example of a neighborhood raising concerns and working with the city and TxDOT and getting things done.”

Wells Branch Parkway widening

The City of Austin notified contractors June 1 to proceed with the widening of Wells Branch Parkway between IH 35 and Heatherwilde Boulevard.
The project, which began in mid June and is expected to take about a year to complete, will expand the road to four lanes with a grass median.
The project is estimated to cost $6 million, said City of Austin project manager Adewale Odufuye.
Existing lanes will remain open as new lanes are constructed. Traffic will be routed through the new lanes when work begins on the rest of the road.

Now you don’t have to sit through four or five lights to get home … [The turnaround] is kind of like the final piece of the puzzle. — Mike Freeman, Round Rock West, Neighborhood Association; I think once people start using it, they’ll see how much faster it is. — Joe Clifford, Round Rock Mayor Pro Tem

Wells Branch Parkway and Heatherwilde Boulevard extensions

Extensions of Wells Branch Parkway and Heatherwilde Boulevard in Pflugerville are both expected to open to traffic July 7, Travis County project manager Tony Valdez said.
The Wells Branch Parkway project extends the road between its current endpoint at Heatherwilde Boulevard eastward to Tudor House Road.
The Heatherwilde Boulevard extension connects the road from its intersection with Wells Branch Parkway southward to Howard Lane.
Each new road segment will have four lanes divided by a grass median.
The $10.8 million project, which began construction last May, was funded through a partnership between Travis County and three area developers. The county will pay for half of the project and the developers will fund the remaining half.
Work was originally expected to be completed in April, but the project was delayed due to inclement weather and relocations of gas pipelines, electric poles and water lines, Valdez said.