la Frontera In the News
The Austin American-Statesman
July 27, 2000
Extension of Texas 45 given key clearance; Environmental OK means work begins on Loop 1 project
Janet Jacobs, American-Statesman Staff
Final environmental approval has been given for the Loop 1 extension of Texas 45, and that means relief for the Texas Turnpike Authority and money for Round Rock.
The turnpike authority, created by the Legislature in 1997, hasn't had any projects approved before now, and the agency is eager to get something on the ground.
For the City of Round Rock, this clears the way for a $16 million loan from the State Infrastructure Bank to help pay for a road to relieve congestion on FM 1325.
The environmental clearance is for Loop 1 from Parmer Lane -- where MoPac Boulevard ends -- north to Interstate 35 and east to County Road 170. The L-shaped stretch of road is -- less than half the length of the entire Texas 45 project but critical because it includes the intersection of FM 1325 and I-35, a badly congested area of Round Rock.
The first part of the project to be built will be the frontage road between County Road 172, just west of La Frontera, and County Road 170, east of I-35. Construction could begin by the end of this year, said Tom Word, city engineer.
The section of FM 1325 at I-35 carries 38,000 cars a day, and the addition of the La Frontera shopping center and office complex is expected to add thousands more. The new road will parallel FM 1325, halving the road's burden and easing congestion near I-35.
With the environmental approval from the Federal Highway Administration, the state can make the $16 million loan to the city. That approval is expected to come today when the Texas Transportation Commission meets in Lubbock. The commission already has given tentative approval for the loan and required only the environmental report before the final OK.
Round Rock intends to use the money to buy land and move utilities in preparation for construction. Williamson County is contributing between $8 million and $10 million to the project. The state will pay for the actual construction of the frontage road, budgeted at about $18 million.
The relief for FM 1325 is important, but Loop 1 will help all of Southern Williamson County, Word said."That's where everybody focuses their attention, but really we need capacity up and down the whole corridor," he said.
From the Texas Turnpike Authority's point of view, the project's approval shows the effectiveness of the agency and may help kick- start other toll road projects -- the main lanes of Texas 45, Texas 130 and U.S. 183-A.
"This is very important for the Texas Turnpike Authority," said Ed Pensock, director of design for the agency. "It allows us to continue one of the crucial pieces of our proposed turnpike system. It's our first final environmental approval."
"It's a very big relief," Pensock said.
Robert Nichols, a member of both the turnpike authority board and the Texas Transportation Commission, said it's an important step in the toll road system in Texas.
"We hope to create more opportunities to leverage state dollars with toll projects and accelerate needed projects that otherwise might not be built in a timely manner," Nichols said.
If approved as a toll road, construction on the rest of Texas 45 could begin by the end of next year, said Randall Dillard, spokesman for the turnpike agency. Building seven miles of main lanes for Texas 45 is expected to cost more than $200 million. As a toll road, Texas 45 would not have to compete with other highway projects for state money. A decision on whether it will be built as a toll road is expected in late 2000 or early 2001.
