By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News

The $75 million RM 620 South widening project is scheduled to break ground in late 2022. 

The Texas Department of Transportation hosted a public hearing on Feb. 20 to share the proposed improvements to RM 620 South, from SH 71 to Hudson Bend Road, not far from Mansfield Dam. 

“Total price tag is estimated to be $75 million from SH 71 to Hudson Bend Road,” said Brad Wheelis, TxDOT public information officer. “It will cost $60 million from SH 71 to Oak Grove Boulevard. That section is expected to start construction in late 2022.”

A formal presentation was given last week followed by a public comment period at the event held at Lake Travis High School.

The purpose of the RM 620 South widening project is to improve safety and mobility along this heavily traveled corridor.

“The annual average daily traffic along RM 620 within the project limits is anticipated to increase by almost 40 percent between years 2023 and 2043,” TxDOT Transportation Planning and Programming Division information reveals. 

Proposed RM 620 South improvements include:

• Widening the existing 4-lane divided roadway to a 6-lane divided roadway with one additional travel lane in each direction,

• Adding raised medians,

• Adding continuous bicycle/pedestrian paths along both sides of the roadway.

The proposed right of way would include some 34 acres of new ROW and there would be no required displacements, TxDOT documents state.

Next steps include completion and submission of the final environmental assessment to the TxDOT Environmental Affairs Division.

If the project is approved to move forward into construction, the earliest the funded portion of the project could break ground is late 2022.

The public can submit comments via email to Matthew.Cho@txdot.gov or mail to the TxDOT Austin District, Attention: RM 620 South Project, 7901 N. I-35, Austin, Texas 78753.

For more information about the project, visit www.txdot.gov and enter “RM 620 South” in the search area.