$100M In Transportation Improvements Coming To Williamson County

CEDAR PARK, TX — The Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) voted this week to dedicate $400 million to a proposed project to improve I-35 through the heart of Austin, county officials said.

Included in Monday's vote was support for two other much-needed projects: Completing frontage roads along US 183A in Cedar Park, and a grade-separated intersection at RM 620 and Anderson Mill. The former project requires an allotment of $75 million to extend frontage roads along U.S. 183A in Cedar Park from Avery Ranch Boulevard to RM 1431.

With the vote, CAMPO effectively is requesting the Texas Transportation Commission consider allocating more than $5 billion in construction funding to address the congestion on I-35 and the other critical Williamson County projects, county officials explained in a press advisory. A major caveat: Funds for the projects aren't currently available, but transportation officials' commitment to support the projects — and fund them at a later date — are considered an important first step.

“I-35 is a critical piece of our region’s transportation network," Cynthia Long, CAMPO Transportation Policy Board vice-chair and Williamson County Commissioner, said. "The CAMPO vote was a commitment to partner with TxDOT in addressing not only I-35, but also frontage roads on 183A through Cedar Park and an overpass for the intersection of RM 620 and Anderson Mill, two other vital roadways for our region.”

Added former Cedar Park Mayor Matt Powell, a longtime advocate for the project: "The funding of the completion of the 183A frontage roads is a major victory not only for Cedar Park, but for all of Western Williamson County and will be an enormous benefit to regional transportation and economic development for decades to come.”