Driving Growth with Road Projects: Strategic Road Infrastructure in Jarrell

by Ann Marie Kennon • images courtesy Williamson County

Jarrell growth will soon reach a new threshold as the city welcomes its first stoplight, a milestone that highlights the city's continued growth. Plans were revealed in December by Precinct 4 Commissioner Russ Boles, who said the new light, at the intersection of FM 487 and C. Bud Stockton Loop, will be installed and working within the next six months.

Adapting to this growth, especially near school areas, has meant officials are also considering widening roads to improve safety. Addressing Com-

missioners Court, Jarrell ISD Superintendent Toni Hicks praised the efforts the county has made so far but — recalling an incident in which a student was struck by a car — emphasized the importance of increased safety at the high school's single egress.

So, in addition to the stoplight, the county is also widening C. Bud Stockton Loop and building a median. These enhancements are particularly important along the sections adjacent to Jarrell High School, which will benefit from additional access points for safer student and vehicle movement.

CR332

Williamson County broke ground on the County Road 332 expansion project in February (facing page), a $2.5 million roadway makeover. This project is a typical example of strategic road safety improvement.

By reconstructing CR 332 to include smoother curves and shoulders, the project aims to enhance motorist safety and mobility, a move Commissioner Boles highlights as beneficial for the community's quality of life. “This is a great road safety project for residents. I believe parents should be home to have dinner with their families, not stuck in traffic.” The county anticipates construction will be complete by fall 2024.

Williamson County is also planning to widen CR 314 from the IH 35 Frontage Road, 3.6 miles east, to the turnoff towards FM 1105. The existing roadway is a narrow two-lane road (one lane in each direction) with no shoulders. The new road will be reconstructed as a three-lane roadway with one lane in each direction, a continuous center turn lane, and shoulders to improve safety and mobility. Design is underway and should be completed soon; construction will begin in summer 2024.

WILCO'S MOST FAMOUS POTHOLE

Local residents will likely rejoice to see one important infrastructure improvement, notably the long-awaited repair of the pothole that has caused problems for so long, due to its size and enduring fails, that it has its own Facebook page.

Known as "Lake Sonterra" by residents, the pothole project is unique among the approval of Williamson County road bond projects because it is a repair to a city-managed street to be paid for with county funds. This singular exception is due to Commissioner Boles' commitment to fixing a problem that was actually not his to fix. He says, "That pothole is the number one complaint I get from residents in Sonterra so, even though it is not a county responsibility, the impact it has on residents makes it one of my top priorities." His commitment to resolving issues that impact the community underscore his inclusive approach to facilitating the growth in Jarrell and Sonterra and addressing its challenges head-on.

"We are in the process of selecting an engineer and following the pothole repair," he adds, "the county will make sure there is an aisle lane in place for the city to maintain but our primary goal is to improve the drainage around that section. Poor drainage is what caused the road to fail and where most of the expense lies. Improving the drainage then repairing the road will enable the former pothole site to have a much longer life than what residents are used to seeing now."

For more information about road projects included in the Williamson County Bond for Jarrell and Precinct 4, scan the code to receive the county's quarterly newsletter "Transportation on the Grow."

LOCAL CONNECTIONS

Precinct 4 Commissioner Russ Boles explains, "Commissioners are always assessing growth and moving forward on road projects as quickly as we can. However, challenges arise because while private developments and subdivisions are required to meet compliance requirements at the state level, they do not need approvals from the county for construction. So, often, the first time we are aware of a new development is when the plat is recorded. By that time, construction may have already begun on county roads that weren't originally designed for the type or volume of traffic that immediately follows."