State and county leaders are sharing their road plans to keep up with the explosive growth caused by Samsung Austin Semiconductor and other factors.
At the Jan. 26 Taylor City Council meeting, city leaders heard an update from representatives of the Texas Department of Transportation and Williamson County on area road projects in the pipeline, including a number of future stoplights along U.S. 79 and U.S. 973 when the traffic volume from new development warrants them.
“A lot of things are coming to Taylor, and we have had a lot of challenges with Samsung and the traffic that they are bringing to town, but it’s exciting times,” said TxDOT Engineer John Peters.
Peters said the agency was closely monitoring traffic patterns in the area.
Christen Eschberger, an HNTB engineer representing the Williamson County Road Bond Program, also discussed county-led projects surrounding the Samsung site, including at the intersection of US. 79 and County Roads 3349 and 101.
“We are seeing increased truck traffic going through there and are having issues with trucks stopping at the median,” she said.
Eschberger said a proposed interim improvement to enhance safety is blocking the medians to prevent left turns at the intersections, and instead having motorists complete u-turns down the road.
“(From 3349) If you will be turning left in that direction, you go about a half of a mile down to the next median, and do the u-turn and come back that direction,” she explained. “Similarly from 101, that’s maybe ¾ of a mile, you will go down and make that U-turn.”
Eschberger said the county will also modify the two median openings to make it safer for the 18-wheelers to turn.
Due to up to twoyear delays surrounding coordination with the railroad, Peters said this interim solution, which will be finished by March, was faster than waiting for traffic signals.
“We are looking at something similar at other crossovers on 79,” Peters said.
In addition, Peters discussed TxDot’s $6 million repair, level up and overlay program along U.S. 79 from Second to Fourth streets that will begin this summer, as well as a feasibility study Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization will fund for 79 and 973.
“Both of those are like your lifeline to Taylor right now,” Peters said. “A lot of folks using those come and go to Austin and the surrounding area … Hopefully future breakout projects will happen that will help improve those corridors, safety wise, with more overpasses, could be more signals.”
Eschberger also discussed other Samsung area projects, including adding right and left turn lanes both at County roads 404 and Samsung Highway, with right turns into Samsung’s driveways, as well as work already underway at County Road 366, which will be reconstructed as a three-lane road with a three-way stop at the Loop and completed by next fall.
