ROUND ROCK, TX The Texas Department of Transportation, in cooperation with the city of Round Rock, Texas, and Williamson County, broke ground on a $28.1-million improvements project designed to enhance safety and mobility along Interstate 35 between U.S. 79 and S.H. 45 North.

The project will address the existing traffic bottleneck north of S.H. 45N where more than 177,000 vehicles a day use I-35. Crews will construct braided ramps (where one ramp crosses over the other) along the northbound I-35 mainlanes between Hester's Crossing and RM 620 to eliminate merging conflicts. In addition, the northbound and southbound frontage road intersections at I-35 and U.S. 79 will be reconstructed and a third left-turn lane for westbound U.S. 79 will be added.

Expected benefits of the project include increased mobility and travel speeds, especially during peak periods, increased merging distance for the existing S.H. 45N flyover to I-35 and increased safety with the elimination of the existing merge conflict between the Hester's Crossing entrance ramp and RM 620 exit ramp.

The 2.3-mile project was funded by Proposition 1 and construction is expected to be complete in winter 2018/2019.

Construction Phases 

Phase I:

"¢ Making improvements to the U.S. 79/I- 35 intersection
"¢ Constructing temporary entrance/exit ramps at RM 620 and Hester's Crossing
"¢ Constructing elevated entrance/exit ramps between S.H. 45N and RM 620

 Phase II:

"¢ Building a tie-in to the new north bound entrance/exit ramps and opening the braided ramps to traffic

Phase III:

"¢ Performing final paving operations for the entire project