Texas 29 expansion to pass south of Liberty Hill

From statesman, September 4, 2008...

The route for a planned expansion of Texas 29 in the northwestern part of Williamson County will pass south of Liberty Hill, several commissioners announced Wednesday.

Expansion of the five-lane highway is part of a long-range countywide transportation plan designed to meet the needs of the rapidly growing county. The county plans to make Texas 29, which now goes through Liberty Hill, the main east-west corridor for an area where county leaders say the next wave of growth will happen. The county estimates that in the next 25 years, 60 to 65 percent of its growth will be west of Interstate 35.

The route follows the existing Texas 29 route except for the bypass around Liberty Hill and the 3,900 residents in and around the city.

Dozens of possible routes north and south of the city were considered, but Long and Commissioner Valerie Covey on Wednesday said the southern route was chosen because there are fewer residents and businesses in the area.

"With Cedar Park and Round Rock almost built out, that will push that growth north into places like Leander and Liberty Hill," said Michael Weaver of Prime Strategies Inc., which manages the county's road bond program.

Read more...