CEDAR PARK -- A new transportation project in Cedar Park is being called the most significant in city history.
The project is designed to expand RM 1431 from four lanes to six between Market Street and Sam Bass Road. The nearly two mile expansion of the key east-west corridor will cost tax payers $22 million and will take an estimated 16 months to complete. The project began two weeks ago.
Other improvements include a concrete center divide, storm drains and improved lighting.
Additionally a state of the art intersection is being put in at RM 1431 and Parmer Lane / Ronald Reagan Boulevard that will divert cars turning left off the road well before the main intersection. The model is designed to get the left-turning cars out of the way of cars going straight.
However the long term gain means short term pain for drivers. They're currently seeing major congestion as the left hand turn lanes have been reduced from two to one at the busy intersection.
"We are the fourth fastest growing city in the country and we are doing what we can do to keep up with that growth, and make sure that transportation and mobility through here is efficient," Cedar Park Media and Communications Manager Jennie Huerta said.
The city currently has five road projects in the works, with another eight in the design phase. However the RM 1431 pass-through project is by far the biggest and most disruptive.
"They had the one lane instead of two for the left turn onto Parmer," Cedar Park resident Theo Barnett said. "I sat through three lights."
"It's definitely made it so that I've had to plan for more time, and I can't get to and from home as quickly as I've been used to," Carolide Asay said, another Cedar Park resident.
Of the $22 million price tag - TxDOT is paying for about $14 million - with the city and county picking up the rest. At 8:30 Tuesday morning, there will be a groundbreaking ceremony held at 3620 East Whitestone Boulevard.
