Stretch Of U.S. 183 In Williamson County On Road To Improvements

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TEXAS — A safety study on a stretch of U.S. 183 has concluded an immediate need for improvements in light of recent traffic accidents there, county officials said Wednesday.

The portion of the roadway from SH 29 to the Williamson County line, also called Corridor F, has seen a spate of vehicle crashes. Informed partly by public feedback, the study identified short- and medium-term safety enhancements to the corridor to prevent future collisions.

Enter the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), which is stepping up with more than $12 million in safety projects along the roadway, including:

• Placing flashing beacons at the US 183 at CR 258 and SH 138 intersections. Projected to be completed late 2018.
• Resurfacing US 183 from SH 29 to the county line. This project will be under construction in 2019.
• Adding turn lanes and shoulders on:
  • US 183 between Live Oak Trail and CR 212 at the Saratoga Springs Neighborhood. This project will be under construction in 2020.
  • US 183 between FM 1869 and Cole Drive. This project will be under construction in 2022.
  • US 183 From FM 1869 to 2500 feet north of CR 258. This project is anticipated to be under construction in 2023.
  • US 183 From SH 138 to CR 254. This project is anticipated to be under construction in 2023.

TxDOT also has requested $6 million in funding from the Highway Safety Improvement Program to add turn lanes and shoulders to US 183 from CR 254 to Cole Drive, county officials said in a press advisory. TxDOT will learn if this project is selected in December 2018. If picked, projections call for the work to start by 2021. Conversely, if the project isn't picked for the additional funding, county officials said, enhancements to the aforementioned projects could be revised.

In addition to the ongoing TxDOT improvements, Williamson County requested the Mobility Authority to consider extending their current U.S. 183 Phase 3 project to construct the ultimate configuration through the CR 258 intersection, county officials said. The proposed main lanes will go north from Hero Way to north of the County’s Seward Junction Loop project.

An open house is scheduled to be staged on Wednesday, Nov. 14, from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Leander VFW Post 10427, 8760 Ranch Rd 2243.

"With the completion of the safety study, Williamson County will continue moving forward with identifying a recommended route for the Corridor F / US 183 corridor," county officials said in a press advisory. For more information on this project, go to www.wilco.org/corridorf.

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