Officials Mark Opening of New Lakeway Drive Bridge

Officials with the City of Georgetown joined the Texas Department of Transportation yesterday at a ribbon-cutting to mark the opening of the new Lakeway Drive Bridge in Georgetown. The new bridge opened to traffic last week.

The construction project replaced the Lakeway Drive Bridge and re-aligned the roadway at Interstate 35 near the Georgetown Municipal Airport. The newly-constructed bridge has two through-lanes and a dedicated left-turn lane in each direction for a total of six lanes, up from the previous narrow two-lane bridge. In addition to the added capacity, the bridge has sidewalks on each side and space to accommodate bicycles. (Click on photos for a larger version.)

”Safety concerns were the primary reason to replace the bridge, which had no sidewalks or bike lanes, and had steep inclines and sat at a skewed angle, creating limited sight distance for drivers,” said Georgetown Mayor George Garver. “Lakeway Drive is the only I-35 crossing in the 4.6-mile segment between Williams Drive and SH 195. With the growth of our city, this new bridge is a very important element, for both mobility and safety.”

The total project cost for the Lakeway Drive Bridge replacement and re-alignment work is $10.25 million, which includes $2.5 million from Georgetown Transportation Enhancement Corporation, which is funded through a 0.5 percent sales tax in Georgetown.

”This project is a great example of collaboration by a number of agencies and we are excited to see this new bridge become a reality,” Garver said.

Work on the project began in Dec. 2011 and is expected to be complete in March. The contractor is Chasco Construction of Round Rock.

“This new bridge will increase capacity at one of the city’s most congested intersections and we’re happy to celebrate its opening with all our partners,” said John Peters, TxDOT Georgetown assistant area engineer. “We strive to achieve excellence in safety every day and this project will definitely enhance safety and mobility for all citizens who travel through the area.”