Road Connector Celebrated In Williamson County

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TX — County officials are celebrating the completion of the final 1.5 miles of the Southwest Bypass project.

The final segment of the road work will connect the City of Georgetown’s portion of the project, SH 29 to RM 2243, to the southbound access road of Interstate 35 at SE Inner Loop. The project is a key component in the overall Williamson County Long-Range Transportation Plan.

For nearly two decades, Williamson County has planned this mobility project to be a critical connection to relieve congestion at main intersections of IH-35 in Georgetown as the area continues to grow, officials explained in a news advisory. Thanks to the collaboration and teamwork between the county and City of Georgetown, this new arterial roadway gives transportation options to those who live, work and spend time in the area, officials added.

Williamson County Commissioner Valerie Covey said the celebrations is a culmination of a long=term collaboration among the county, the City of Georgetown and Texas Crushed Stone: "For nearly 20 years, local leaders have sought a west side bypass to enhance safety and mobility in a fast-growing area. \Large neighborhoods on the west side of Georgetown, such as Sun City, Serenada, The Village, Heritage Oaks, and many others now have multiple options to access the interstate and local businesses.”

Officials noted Williamson County’s portion of the Southwest Bypass is unique because it runs through a large and active quarry. The Snead Family, owners of Texas Crushed Stone, have worked diligently with the county and City of Georgetown to make this road project a reality, officials added. To that end, the Sneads donated the necessary right-of-way for the project and even accelerated quarry operations near the roadway ahead of construction to ensure the safety of those building the roadway and that of the traveling public.

“This is an important milestone for the City of Georgetown and for Williamson County,” Georgetown Mayor Dale Ross said in a prepared statement. “With this opening, Georgetown completes a 4-mile loop around the southwest side of the city, providing a key connection from Highway 29 to Leander Road and now to Interstate 35 and, most importantly, fulfilling a commitment to voters, who approved two bonds to make this project possible.”

The final portion of the Southwest Bypass, from Leander Rd/RM2243 to I-35 was funded by Williamson County. This portion of the project cost approximately $19.8 million and was funded by voter-approved Road Bonds.

The Southwest Bypass project is being celebrated by many since it has been a collaborative effort for almost 20 years, county officials noted. The plans to start the project date back to the time when former Precinct 3 Commissioner David Hays was in office.

“We have needed a parallel route to I-35 through Georgetown for a long time," Hays said in a prepared statement. "One of the reasons that it has taken nearly two decades to plan and build is trying to work through all the challenges of building a road around Lake Georgetown and the quarries. The opening of this connection from I-35 to Leander Road through Texas Crushed Stone and on to SH 29 is a huge achievement that will greatly enhance the ability of traffic to move around Georgetown."