WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas -- A $35 million construction project is now underway on State Highway 195 in Williamson County.
Crews are widening the highway from Florence to Ronald Reagan Boulevard. The stage is the third and final step of the expansion for SH 195. The project started in 2011.
The community wanted a safer and faster way to get down State Highway 195 through Williamson County. It's a route regularly used by Bell and Williamson County residents and students, as well as by soldiers at Fort Hood.
According to the Texas Department of Transportation, 14,000 vehicles use the road on an average day. Before the expansion project began, SH 195 was plagued with crashes. Congressman John Carter, R-Round Rock, said many were fatal.
The road didn't have a wide shoulder and trees lined the side. Carter made a special push to get the project approved.
If you ran the death count on this highway, I think most of the folks that patrol our highways will tell you it's one of the highest in the entire state of Texas, he explained. As far as I'm concerned this is a gift to the families both of our warriors and of our kids, our own personal kids and grandkids.
Rep. Carter participated in a ceremonial dig on the final project Friday morning alongside TxDOT officials and representatives from Ft. Hood and Williamson County. Once it's complete, the road will be four lanes wide with a divided grassy median. Construction is expected to wrap by spring 2016.
