Williamson County Cuts Ribbon On Lakeline Turn Lane

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TX — The completion of a traffic turn lane normally wouldn't be the cause for community-wide celebration. But when such construction is in one of the nation's fastest-growing counties as is Williamson County, this otherwise mundane development is cause for elation.

And so Thursday's completion of a right turn lane on Lakeline Boulevard east bound between Pecan Parkway and US 183 was marked with the full pageantry of a ribbon cutting.

“The right turn lane project on Lakeline is one of our many projects that will improve the safety on roadways throughout the county," Precinct Two Commissioner Cynthia Long said. "With the Lakeline project, the right turn / deceleration lane on Lakeline between Pecan Park and US Hwy 183 at HEB will help prevent rear end collisions and allow for free-flowing traffic through this busy area.”

That's music to the ears of county residents drawn to the area for its small town allure before the well-kept secret of its decidedly un-Austin pace become common knowledge. As the county's quality-of-life reputation spread, an increasing number of residents have descended there to make it one of the fastest-growing counties in the nation. Between July 1, 2016, and July 1, 2017, the county's population grew by 3.75 percent — from 528,718 to 547,545 — making it the fifth-fastest growing county in Texas, according to U.S. Census Bureau figures.

With that influx of new residents comes more traffic. And with more traffic comes more congestion at best and increasing numbers of fender benders at worst. The new turn lane is seen as something just short of panacea in preventing such drawbacks.

The design engineer for the project that was completed in nine months' time was Kimley-Horn while the contractor was M.A. Smith Contracting. Lakeline Market Retail Corp. dedicated the right-of-way for the project that was funded with voter approved road bonds.

Top photo: (left to right): Richard Ridings (HNTB), Eddie Church (HNTB), Coy Lechow (Smith Contracting), Kristen Vanoosier (CobbFinley), Christen Eschberger (HNTB), Cynthia Long (Williamson County Pct. 2 Commissioner), Jordan Kiewit (Kimley-Horn), Trey Neal (Kimley-Horn), Clayton Weber (HNTB)