Residents visit with TxDOT, CAMPO regarding FM 973 expansion
With growth comes expansion, including FM 973 which someday could be enlarged by a total of six lanes, state officials said.
For now, public input is being sought on the proposal regarding the roadway, which is close to Taylor High School, the massive Samsung Austin Semiconductor plant and new neighborhoods.
The Texas Department of Transportation and the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization hosted a workshop about the project Thursday at the Dickey-Givens Community Center, 1015 E. MLK Jr. Blvd.
Attendees looked at schematics for the proposal and were also asked to contribute comments and ask
questions. “The biggest need for this expansion is that Williamson County is growing,” said Kellen Mohrmann, a TxDOT spokeswoman. “It has been growing for a number of years. Taylor is no exception.” The project calls for 973 between U.S. 79 and Samsung Highway to be expanded to three lanes in both directions with an elevated median. The road is currently one lane in each direction with a turn lane in the middle.
“We’ve been talking about this for a long time,” Mohrmann said. “More residents and more businesses mean more traffic on our roadways. We’re looking to get ahead of that and try to meet the needs of our community.”
Mohrmann elaborated on the things TxDOT looks for when considering road expansion.
“We look at traffic safety, congestion and the current conditions as well as what we expect the conditions to be in a couple of years,” Mohrmann said. “We’re trying to plan ahead in the long term. At TxDOT, we plan projects well in advance and identify problems, but there are times where it can take a while to get through the processes.”
The population of Williamson County, according to TxDOT, is 609,000. That number is projected to go up to 1.7 million by 2050.
Councilman Greg Redden — whose District 1 includes the roadway near Samsung Austin Semiconductor and Taylor High — believes the project will help ease traffic congestion, albeit with a few changes.
“This is necessary because the light at FM 973 and U.S. 79 is backed up all the way to Taylor High School in the mornings,” Redden said. “This will alleviate the wait times at the lights.”
While Redden believes the road expansion will help, he believes there will need to be more traffic lights along 973.
“Right now, Avery Glen is landlocked,” he said. “(Under this plan) there’s no way to go south, so they really need to put in a traffic light at Reagor Drive so they can go north or south instead of just having turn lanes. Right now, there’s no way for them to get out except for traveling north, then making a U-turn.”
TxDOT will continue to have a virtual open house on the project until Sept. 22.
Visit fm973project.com for more information.
