Round Rock Celebrates RM 620 Roundabout Project Launch

ROUND ROCK, TX — Officials from Round Rock this week were joined by Texas Department of Transportation and Williamson County representatives in celebrating the launch of an ambitious RM 620 improvement project featuring a roundabout traffic-calming device.

The project stretching from interstate 35 to Deep Wood Drive will add overpasses at Chisholm Trail and Lake Creek Drive, a roundabout at RM 620 and Chisholm Trail beneath a new overpass, widened lanes and, new frontage roads, officials detailed in a press advisory. The project also will add new frontage roads while improving bicycle and pedestrian access and accommodations, officials added.

A groundbreaking ceremony took place on Wednesday morning at 901 Round Rock Ave. along RM 620 at Chisholm Trail. The event in the parking lot at the southwest corner of the RM 620 at Chisholm Trail intersection had all the signs of a community-wide party given the envisioned positive impact the project will have on the area.

Indeed, in an area continually experiencing increased traffic amid brisk municipal growth, the otherwise mundane nature of road work was genuine cause for celebration. True to form, members of the Round Rock High School band were on hand to help kick off the project with music.

Members of the Round Rock High School Band helped usher in the new road project. Photo courtesy of the Texas Department of Transportation.

At the groundbreaking, Mayor Craig Morgan categorized the safety focus of the ambitious project as nothing short of live-saving: “Improvements to RM 620 are vital for our Round Rock residents and visitors," the mayor said. "Just as importantly, with the addition of overpasses, our emergency services will soon be able to get to St. David’s Round Rock Medical Center with less delay. It is no exaggeration to say that this project will save lives.”

Joining the mayor were Williamson County Commissioner Terry Cook, representatives from the office of Congressman John Carter and Texas Department of Transportation officials.

The project is a partnership among the Texas Department of Transportation, the City of Round Rock and Williamson County. The City of Round Rock and Williamson County funded development of the project while the state transportation agency funded the $27.4 million construction.

"This project has come about because of the tireless efforts of our local partners, and I am excited that we are able to make these much-needed improvements a reality," Austin District Engineer Tucker Ferguson of the Texas Department of Transportation, said.

Cook lauded the esprit de corps that got the project off the ground: "Collaboration is the key to getting the RM 620 Roundabout project off the ground. We are happy to see construction get underway and can’t wait for it to be competed in a couple of years.”

Once the project is complete, officials said, the overpasses at Chisolm Trail and Lake Creek Drive will separate local traffic from through traffic, improving safety and mobility. RM 620 serves St. David’s Round Rock Medical Center as well as Round Rock High School and the Round Rock Independent School District headquarters, officials added.

Construction of the improvements is anticipated to be complete by the end of 2022, weather permitting. The contractor for the project is Bridges and Roads, LLC.

To learn more about the project, visit www.My35Construction.org.