AUSTIN, TX Safety and mobility projects in eight counties are moving forward, following recent road contract awards by the Texas Transportation Commission.   

Ten projects and contracts totaling almost $5.6 million will improve road conditions in Bastrop, Burnet, Caldwell, Hays, Lee, Llano, Travis and Williamson counties. 

RM 620 in Round Rock, Texas, will be getting a third lane in a $472,000 project to resurface and restripe the highway between Cornerwood Drive and Wyoming Springs Road. Austin Materials, LLC will fulfill the contract that will match a section further east to Deepwood Drive that will be completed in the first half of 2018.

Austin Traffic Signal Construction will be working in four counties, adding flashing beacons and improving and upgrading traffic signals. The work includes intersections on FM 973 at Shadowglen in Manor, RM 2244 at Cuernavaca in Travis County, US 290 in Elgin, Texas, two locations in Williamson County including RM 2338 at Ronald Reagan Boulevard and US 183 at SH 138, and seven locations on US 281 in Burnet, Texas. The contract is worth almost $879,000, and work will spread out over the next year.

A contract worth $1 million will build a pedestrian trail and sidewalks along RM 152 in Llano. The work will stretch between Post Oak Drive and Mallone Street. Acme Bridge Company won the contract.

Sidewalks will also be added at various locations in Elgin, Texas. Trevway, Inc. will build the $496,000 project over about nine months. The sidewalks will be installed at locations along County Line Road, FM 1100, SH 95 and on North Main Street.

Drivers along SH 29 in Bertram, Texas, will see a continuous center-turn lane at CR 252 in 2018. Denbow Company will carry out a $613,000 contract to build the turn lane from just west of RM 243 to Vaughn Street.

Further west in Llano County, Restek, Inc. will rehabilitate the SH 29 bridge over Elm Creek, east of RM 2768. The $890,000 contract will also handle erosion repair around the bridge. The contract is part of TxDOT's commitment to bridge maintenance and improvement.

Having quality highways takes more than pavement and signals. Three companies won four contracts for tree trimming and brush removal in six counties. Cross Plus Construction received two contracts for $347,000 and $267,000, with Boen Landscaping and Irrigation getting a $347,000 award and Unity Contractor Service, Inc. winning a $216,000 bid.