Cement trucks whizzing by could not drown out the sounds of the celebration of a new $82 million road project to relieve congestion near the site of the future $17 billion Samsung Austin Semiconductor facility last Wednesday. “Today is an amazing day,” said Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell.
“Today we are talking about the largest single road project in the history of Williamson County. And what’s amazing about the road project is that it involves a lot of people working together from the state level, federal level to the county level to the local level.”
Indeed, a who-is-who of county leaders joined U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions and Texas Transportation Chairman J. Bruce Bugg, Jr for a groundbreaking ceremony for the Texas Department of Transportation construction project at F.M. 3349 and U.S. 79.
“Roads and economic development go hand-in-hand, and roads improve the quality of life wherever population continues to grow, and that’s what we’re all about at the Texas Department of Transportation,” said Chairman Bugg.
The project, which is expected to be completed by summer 2025, includes widening the existing undivided two-lane 3349 and CR 101 roadways into a four-lane divided roadway, constructing two bridges over US 79 and the Union Pacific Railroad, and constructing a local access road “jug handle” to provide signalized connectivity between 79 and 3349.
“I love a good road,” said Williamson County Precinct 4 Commissioner Russ Boles. “A good road brings health to the people of Williamson County. It brings education. It brings opportunity. This road is going to allow school busses to cross this intersection.”
Also in attendance were members of the city councils of Hutto, Taylor and Pflugerville, representatives from Samsung, Texas Department of Transportation and other organizations and businesses.
“I believe the most significant construction intersection in the world is right here in Williamson County, Texas,” Gravell said. “I believe that when these projects are completed you will see a value that tops somewhere of half a trillion dollars of appraised property value here in Williamson County.”
U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions also expressed his support for the construction project. “It’s an exciting thing to be a part of, not just a rising tide but a part of people who are alive and understand how important progress is,” Sessions said. “We want to see progress in our lives, but managing that progress is what will be a daunting challenge as people move here, and they see not just prairie but their future.”
Hutto resident James Weaver said this effort was a good start to relieve congestion for the area.
“It has been a long time in coming,” Weaver said. “But at least they are getting started on some of the road work that needs to be done in Hutto. Traffic is only going to get worse, both in Hutto and Taylor. To help, they need to get the roads done. This is the first major intersection that needs to get completed, and it’s a good start.”
According to county officials, this initiative is part of the Southeast Loop, connecting SH 130 to 79. Phase One of the loop is currently under construction and is anticipated to be completed in summer of 2023. Phase Two is under design, and the county is actively pursuing construction funding.
