Many of your voted in the 1991 bond package that included bond authorization (proposition #3, I think)for improvesments to SH 45 (north) and FM 1826.
If you are like me, you may be wondering what to expect, if anything ?!
I made a few calls, both with Travis County and TxDOT. I got nearly identical answers - both were pointing fingers at the other agency, and Gary Bradly, too!
The bottom line - don't expect any changes for at least a couple more years.
The only part of FM 1826 that is being targeted, anyway, is the northern section that runs from the horrible - 3 way intersection at Slaughter Lane to the equally dangerious light at Hwy 290.
Expect that stretch to be widened to at least 4 lanes, but more likely to 5 lanes. The high section by the hosptial will be lowered considerably. But, as of now, there are no plans for another stop light.
Part of the project requires right of way from the home developers. TxDOT said they were expecting this from Gary Bradley, but who knows who is controling that property today.
TxDOT told me that they were waiting on the county, but also they didn't want to start construction until AFTER the Hwy 290 road improvements were completed (current plans call for a long elevated extension of Hwy 290 all the way west to the top of the hill, to the traffic light at Circle Drive. Once that happens, traffic light at FM 1826 and Hwy 290 will probably be removed, since all access road traffic and work from a 4-way stop. Expect the same thing at the ACC entrance. Less surface traffic won't require a traffic light any longer.
Remember, HEB is still expected to build on the SE corner, across from the hosptial, and the CCHOA education committee is working right now, to move up the new middle school start date at Slaughter Lane and FM 1826.
Meanwhile, if you are interested, over in Hays county, plans are moving along to start up another huge Circle C sized development about 3 miles south. They have proposed extending Escarpment Lane, over a corner of Prop 2 land (bad idea), to act as an alternate entrance to their new neighborhood. We may have to go down to Hayes county for some zoning hearing and to urge them to nix this bad idea, as FM 1826 is the only route currently available to them !!!
Then, expect Nutty Brown road to be widened rather soon. Beltera is yet another large neighborhood that sprung up just a couple of years ago. It's growing fast and plans extend over Nutty Brown Road in a later phase. They also are already using a back road on Nutty Brown, for heavy truck traffic.
These county roads to need to be rebuilt, but it will be a long and messy process, which will include detours, utitity interuptions, and slower traffic speed limits. Therefore, the sooner the better.
If you are like me, you may be wondering what to expect, if anything ?!
I made a few calls, both with Travis County and TxDOT. I got nearly identical answers - both were pointing fingers at the other agency, and Gary Bradly, too!
The bottom line - don't expect any changes for at least a couple more years.
The only part of FM 1826 that is being targeted, anyway, is the northern section that runs from the horrible - 3 way intersection at Slaughter Lane to the equally dangerious light at Hwy 290.
Expect that stretch to be widened to at least 4 lanes, but more likely to 5 lanes. The high section by the hosptial will be lowered considerably. But, as of now, there are no plans for another stop light.
Part of the project requires right of way from the home developers. TxDOT said they were expecting this from Gary Bradley, but who knows who is controling that property today.
TxDOT told me that they were waiting on the county, but also they didn't want to start construction until AFTER the Hwy 290 road improvements were completed (current plans call for a long elevated extension of Hwy 290 all the way west to the top of the hill, to the traffic light at Circle Drive. Once that happens, traffic light at FM 1826 and Hwy 290 will probably be removed, since all access road traffic and work from a 4-way stop. Expect the same thing at the ACC entrance. Less surface traffic won't require a traffic light any longer.
Remember, HEB is still expected to build on the SE corner, across from the hosptial, and the CCHOA education committee is working right now, to move up the new middle school start date at Slaughter Lane and FM 1826.
Meanwhile, if you are interested, over in Hays county, plans are moving along to start up another huge Circle C sized development about 3 miles south. They have proposed extending Escarpment Lane, over a corner of Prop 2 land (bad idea), to act as an alternate entrance to their new neighborhood. We may have to go down to Hayes county for some zoning hearing and to urge them to nix this bad idea, as FM 1826 is the only route currently available to them !!!
Then, expect Nutty Brown road to be widened rather soon. Beltera is yet another large neighborhood that sprung up just a couple of years ago. It's growing fast and plans extend over Nutty Brown Road in a later phase. They also are already using a back road on Nutty Brown, for heavy truck traffic.
These county roads to need to be rebuilt, but it will be a long and messy process, which will include detours, utitity interuptions, and slower traffic speed limits. Therefore, the sooner the better.
