Ramps closed to prime the pump for toll road in Round Rock
Round Rock residents protest ramp closures
Transportation officials say safety issues come first
February 22, 2006
By Camille Wheeler
Austin American-Statesman
Copyright 2006
ROUND ROCK — A standing-room-only crowd of 250 frustrated residents and business owners packed City Council chambers Tuesday night to protest the impending permanent closures of four on-and-off Interstate 35 ramps near the shadows of Texas 45 North.
The closures could come by year's end to make room for the toll road's Round Rock flyovers, also tentatively scheduled to open at that point, Texas Department of Transportation officials said.
Bob Daigh, Austin district engineer for the Department of Transportation, bluntly told residents the state's position: The ramps must be removed.
If left open in combination with other ramps, the four targeted ramps — north- and southbound entrances and exits near McNeil Road and Hesters Crossing Road — would result in dangerous weaves: traffic moving at different speeds and in opposing directions, Daigh said.
"Unfortunately, for safety reasons, those four ramps must be closed," he said. "I will not find myself in a hospital with one of your kids because of a weave problem that we didn't prohibit because of a proper decision to close those ramps."
"I wish I were Santa Claus and could drop an infinite amount of money on this area, and I wish I could talk happy talk to you and make all the problems go away," he said. "But I refuse to do that. We have a safety issue."
But Round Rock residents argue that closing four ramps at once will create nightmarish traffic jams on the frontage roads. And business owners say they fear losing money if shoppers find it more difficult to reach their doors.
Sean Greenberg, one of three owners of Pluckers Wing Bar, set to open in March near the McNeil Road exit on the east side of I-35, said he's dismayed by talk of ramp closures.
"Had we realized what the situation was, . . . we certainly would've chosen a different location within the Round Rock area," he said.
U.S. Rep. John Carter, R-Round Rock, told the crowd that he'd help how ever possible. Away from the lectern, Carter said: "I'm here to say, 'Let's calm down.' Federal funds are always helpful, but they (state transportation officials) haven't asked for them."
Also attending the tense meeting were state Rep. Mike Krusee, R-Williamson County, and Williamson County Commissioner Lisa Birkman.
To ease the pain of southbound ramp closures, Round Rock officials unveiled a $10 million plan to build an escape route, a new road, under Hesters Crossing Road. Drivers would stay on the southbound I-35 frontage road, go under Hesters Crossing and then re-enter the frontage road, thus avoiding the Hesters Crossing signal. Planned improvements include adding two lanes to the Hesters Crossing bridge.
The four ramps wouldn't be rebuilt, officials said. Two entrance and exit ramps near the flyovers and the La Frontera retail center, although shifted, would remain in place, and two existing ramps north of McNeil Road may be accessed.
State officials said they will respond to all the written questions they received.
© 2005 Austin American-Statesman: www.statesman.com
Transportation officials say safety issues come first
February 22, 2006
By Camille Wheeler
Austin American-Statesman
Copyright 2006
ROUND ROCK — A standing-room-only crowd of 250 frustrated residents and business owners packed City Council chambers Tuesday night to protest the impending permanent closures of four on-and-off Interstate 35 ramps near the shadows of Texas 45 North.
The closures could come by year's end to make room for the toll road's Round Rock flyovers, also tentatively scheduled to open at that point, Texas Department of Transportation officials said.
Bob Daigh, Austin district engineer for the Department of Transportation, bluntly told residents the state's position: The ramps must be removed.
If left open in combination with other ramps, the four targeted ramps — north- and southbound entrances and exits near McNeil Road and Hesters Crossing Road — would result in dangerous weaves: traffic moving at different speeds and in opposing directions, Daigh said.
"Unfortunately, for safety reasons, those four ramps must be closed," he said. "I will not find myself in a hospital with one of your kids because of a weave problem that we didn't prohibit because of a proper decision to close those ramps."
"I wish I were Santa Claus and could drop an infinite amount of money on this area, and I wish I could talk happy talk to you and make all the problems go away," he said. "But I refuse to do that. We have a safety issue."
But Round Rock residents argue that closing four ramps at once will create nightmarish traffic jams on the frontage roads. And business owners say they fear losing money if shoppers find it more difficult to reach their doors.
Sean Greenberg, one of three owners of Pluckers Wing Bar, set to open in March near the McNeil Road exit on the east side of I-35, said he's dismayed by talk of ramp closures.
"Had we realized what the situation was, . . . we certainly would've chosen a different location within the Round Rock area," he said.
U.S. Rep. John Carter, R-Round Rock, told the crowd that he'd help how ever possible. Away from the lectern, Carter said: "I'm here to say, 'Let's calm down.' Federal funds are always helpful, but they (state transportation officials) haven't asked for them."
Also attending the tense meeting were state Rep. Mike Krusee, R-Williamson County, and Williamson County Commissioner Lisa Birkman.
To ease the pain of southbound ramp closures, Round Rock officials unveiled a $10 million plan to build an escape route, a new road, under Hesters Crossing Road. Drivers would stay on the southbound I-35 frontage road, go under Hesters Crossing and then re-enter the frontage road, thus avoiding the Hesters Crossing signal. Planned improvements include adding two lanes to the Hesters Crossing bridge.
The four ramps wouldn't be rebuilt, officials said. Two entrance and exit ramps near the flyovers and the La Frontera retail center, although shifted, would remain in place, and two existing ramps north of McNeil Road may be accessed.
State officials said they will respond to all the written questions they received.
© 2005 Austin American-Statesman:
posted by Porkus Maximus Tex: at Wednesday, February 22, 2006
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