Street resurfacing work starts
Street resurfacing projects, including a high-performance surface sealant treatment and hot-in-place recycling, will be completed this summer and fall with work starting Aug. 7.
The work schedule can be affected by weather conditions, mechanical issues, and product availability. For updates on the paving schedule and a complete list of projects, visit https://transportation.georgetown.org/2023-street-maintenance-projects/.
Streets are selected for resurfacing treatments based on the Pavement Condition Index study that grades roadway surface conditions and recommends treatments based on road conditions and traffic volumes. The last study was completed in 2018. A new study will be completed later this year.
The City is using two types of street resurfacing products:
Hot-in-place recycling
Hot-in-place recycling is an alternative to mill and asphalt overlay in which existing pavement is heated, removed, ground, and mixed with new material to create a new asphalt surface. This process is completed in a single pass with multiple machines in line to decrease the street closure timeline.
Streets in the Pecan Branch North, North College Street, Williams Addition, San Gabriel Heights, and River Ridge neighborhoods are scheduled for repaving this summer and fall. The schedule will be updated on this page and via Nextdoor and flyers will be placed on doors as work is scheduled.
Work in the Pecan Branch North neighborhood started on Aug. 7.
Streets will not be closed during hot-in-place repaving; however, drivers should expect delays and are encouraged to choose alternate routes. Flaggers will be present to assist drivers.
High-performance surface seal
As part of this surface treatment, a sealant is applied to the surface of the roadway, reducing damage from UV radiation, water, and vehicle traffic. Street sealant work is planned for streets in Thousand Oaks, River Bend, Sun City, Westhaven, LaConterra, and Pinnacle neighborhoods this summer and fall.
Sealant work will start on Aug. 16. The schedule will be updated on our website and via Nextdoor and flyers will be placed on doors as work is scheduled.
On the day work is scheduled, the streets will be closed to traffic for 24 hours. Streets will be blocked off at 8 a.m. and will be reopened the following day at 8 a.m.
For questions about street maintenance projects, contact customercare@georgetown.org.
I-35 mainlanes to close for Williams Drive bridge deck pour
At 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, July 28-29, the northbound and southbound I-35 mainlanes will close to traffic between Lakeway Drive and Hwy. 29. Northbound I-35 traffic will detour to the frontage road at the Williams Drive exit (262) and re-enter the mainlanes north of Northwest Boulevard. Southbound I-35 traffic will use the Williams Drive exit (262) and re-enter the mainlanes at the Hwy. 29 entrance ramp.
The Williams Drive bridge will also be closed. Eastbound traffic will detour to the southbound I-35 frontage road and use the U-turn at Hwy. 29 to access Williams Drive. Westbound traffic will detour to the northbound I-35 frontage road before turning left at the signalized intersection at Lakeway Drive to access Williams Drive.
See the detour map for more details. All lanes will reopen to traffic by 10 a.m. each morning, weather permitting.
The I-35 at Williams Drive project is expected to be complete by late 2023, weather permitting.
To learn more about this project and the Mobility35 Program, visit My35Construction.org.
Stage 3 water restrictions now in effect: Outdoor watering is prohibited at least through Monday, July 17
Due to sustained high water use nearing system treatment capacity, the City of Georgetown is temporarily enacting and enforcing Stage 3 of the Drought Contingency Plan effective July 14-17, 2023. Watering with an irrigation system or hose-end sprinkler is prohibited during this time. The City will decide early next week whether to extend or increase these restrictions.
The water is safe to drink. Eliminating outdoor water usage is critical to keeping our water safe and to avoid boil water notices.
“We need every one of our water customers to immediately stop outdoor watering, at least through Monday,” Georgetown Mayor Josh Schroeder said. “Conserving water this weekend is critical to giving our system enough time to recover, so we can lift these temporary restrictions, but we won’t know for sure until Monday.”
Georgetown water customers must turn off all irrigation systems effective immediately. City leaders are making direct contact with large developers, homeowner associations, and high-water users and informing them that they must stop watering outdoors during this time.
All City splashpads and City facility irrigation systems will be turned off. City-maintained pools will remain open, as water use is minimal and must be done to maintain operations and sanitation.
Over the past two weeks, water production from the City’s water treatment plants has exceeded 90 percent of capacity on multiple days, triggering an immediate need to conserve water to allow our system to recover. During the summer months, 75 percent of the water produced each day by water treatment plants is used for lawn and landscape irrigation.
“While irrigation is the bulk of the issue, we also have not been receiving the full, contracted amount of treated water from the City of Leander,” City Manager David Morgan said. “Between conservation and some additional capacity coming online this weekend we are hopeful we will not have to extend Stage 3 restrictions beyond Monday.”
This call for limiting water use only applies to City of Georgetown water customers. See a map of Georgetown’s water utility here. Round Rock water customers west of I-35 and all City of Leander water customers also are prohibited from outdoor watering this weekend due to treatment and supply limitations.
Updates will be posted here and on social media pages.
Find more information on rebates, programming your controller how-to videos, and information on our water system at water.georgetown.org.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is hand-held watering allowed during these restrictions?
Yes, hand-held watering is allowed during the temporary Stage 3 restrictions.
Will we roll the schedule to allow Friday-Sunday customers to water next week?
Since this is expected to be an isolated issue for just three days, we will not be changing the watering schedule.
Will we fine residents who were out of town and unable to change their irrigation during the temporary restrictions?
Please email conservationservices@georgetown.org with your address and concern. If possible and approved by the property owner, the City can turn off water to the irrigation system.
Why is the City continuing to approve new development when we can’t serve our current residents?
Cities are limited in what we can do to restrict growth, predominately because it’s a property rights issue. When developers/landowners submit a plan for their property, it goes through our development and permitting process. If they can meet our development rules, they are entitled to develop their property. We are in the process of updating our development rules to match the vision we adopted in the 2030 Plan. Find out more about the 2030 plan here.
Enacting a moratorium will do little to stop the development you see now. The developments you see coming online today were vested to their rights 3-5 years ago. It takes about a year for a development agreement to be negotiated with the City; a year to design and permit; and a year to construct infrastructure before the first house in a new subdivision ever receives water from us.
The developments being negotiated today will pay impact fees, which will help fund the $200 million, 44 million gallon-a-day Southlake Water Treatment Plant. Half of this plant is scheduled to come online in 2025. The Northlake Water Treatment Plant expansion of 8 million gallons per day should come online in the next two months. Learn more about water capital improvement projects here.
Additionally, we have enough treated drinking water for our customers’ daily, domestic uses (i.e. drinking water, showers, toilets, etc.). We only run into capacity issues during the summer months, when the vast majority of our water is used to irrigate lawns. That is why we ask for communitywide participation in conservation efforts, particularly in the summer. Conservation is easy, and something everyone can do.
I-35 mainlanes to close for Williams Drive bridge beam set
The Texas Department of Transportation will close the southbound I-35 mainlanes on Saturday to set beams on the Williams Drive bridge.
At 9 p.m. on Friday, July 14, northbound I-35 will be reduced to one lane between Hwy. 29 and Lakeway Drive. Drivers should expect delays. All lanes will reopen to traffic by 9 a.m. Saturday.
At 9 p.m. on Saturday, July 15, the southbound I-35 mainlanes will close between Lakeway Drive and Hwy. 29. Traffic will use the Williams Drive exit (262) and re-enter the mainlanes at the Hwy. 29 entrance ramp. All lanes will reopen to traffic by 10 a.m. Sunday, weather permitting.
The Williams Drive bridge will also be closed during the beam set. Eastbound traffic will detour to the southbound I-35 frontage road and use the U-turn at Hwy. 29 to access Williams Drive. Westbound traffic will detour to the northbound I-35 frontage road before turning left at the signalized intersection at Lakeway Drive to access Williams Drive.
The I-35 at Williams Drive project is expected to be complete by late 2023, weather permitting.
To learn more about this project and the Mobility35 Program, visit My35Construction.org.
I-35 at Williams Drive – Northbound I-35 closure for beam set
The Texas Department of Transportation will close northbound I-35 mainlanes and Williams Drive to allow for the placement of bridge beams overnight on Thursday as part of the I-35 at Williams Drive project.
On Thursday, July 6 at 9 p.m., the northbound I-35 mainlanes will close to traffic between SH 29 and Northwest Boulevard. Northbound I-35 traffic will detour to the frontage road at the Williams Drive exit (262) and re-enter the mainlanes north of Northwest Boulevard.
The Williams Drive bridge will also be closed during the beam set. Eastbound traffic will detour to the southbound I-35 frontage road and use the U-turn at SH 29 to access Williams Drive. Westbound traffic will detour to the northbound I-35 frontage road before turning left at the signalized intersection at Lakeway Drive to access Williams Drive. (See attached detour map.)
All lanes will reopen to traffic by 5 a.m., weather permitting.
The I-35 at Williams Drive project is expected to be complete by late 2023, weather permitting.
To learn more about this project and the Mobility35 Program, visit My35Construction.org.
Mosquito trap tests positive for West Nile virus in Georgetown
A mosquito trap sample collected in the City of Georgetown has tested positive for West Nile virus. This testing is part of Williamson County and Cities Health District’s Integrated Vector Management program. The positive test was indicated in lab results received on June 29 from the Texas Department of State Health Services lab in Austin.
The positive sample was collected from a trap site near Blue Hole Park, 100 Blue Hole Park Road. This is the first time a positive sample was collected from this location.
This is the fourth reported West Nile virus positive trap in Williamson County in five weeks of the 2023 season. Positive mosquito samples have been previously detected in Georgetown (Geneva Park) and Jarrell (Sonterra Community).
“As we near the July 4th holiday and enjoy outdoor activities (especially at dusk when the mosquitoes that carry West Nile virus are most active), I encourage everyone to use an EPA-approved insect repellent if spending time outdoors, empty wading pools when not in use, and ensure permanent pools are properly maintained and chlorinated,” Jason Fritz, integrated vector management program lead, said. “While we cannot predict if West Nile virus activity will continue at this rate, following the simple precautions to protect yourself and reduce breeding conditions will help the community.”
Mosquitoes are present in Central Texas year-round, but the population is largest and most active from May through November. During this period, WCCHD monitors the mosquito population and tests for mosquito-borne viruses.
Symptoms of infection may include fever, headache, and body aches, a skin rash on the trunk of the body, and swollen lymph nodes. Those age 50 and older and/or with compromised immune systems are at a higher risk for severe symptoms, which may include stiffness, disorientation, coma, tremors, vision loss, paralysis, and in rare cases, death.
The most important way to prevent West Nile virus is to reduce the number of mosquitoes where people live, work, and play. Health officials strongly encourage everyone to remain vigilant about protecting themselves from mosquito bites and preventing mosquito breeding on their personal property. Mosquitoes breed in standing water, needing as little as one teaspoon. By draining all sources of standing water in and around your property, you reduce the number of places mosquitoes can lay their eggs and breed.
What you can do:
Eliminating places where mosquitoes can breed and reducing the chances of mosquito bites are the most effective lines of defense against exposure to West Nile Virus. As part of its Fight the Bite campaign the Health District recommends the 3 Ds of mosquito safety:
- Drain standing water in flowerpots, pet dishes, or clogged gutters so mosquitoes don’t have a place to breed and treat water that can’t be drained,
- Defend by using an EPA-registered insect repellent, and
- Dress in long sleeves and pants when outdoors.
For more information, go to the WCCHD website at www.wcchd.org or visit the Texas Department of State Health Services West Nile website at txwestnile.org.
Updated: Juneteenth celebration in Georgetown
Updated June 13, 2023–The 71st annual Juneteenth celebration in Georgetown on June 16-17 includes multiple events. The Georgetown Juneteenth events are sponsored by the Georgetown Cultural Citizen Memorial Association and GTX Connect. In addition to these events, a Juneteenth photo exhibit will be on display at the Georgetown Public Library on June 12-18.
June 16
Soul at City Center
The Soul at City Center Juneteenth event from 6-8 p.m. Friday, June 16, will be held at the outdoor plaza behind 808 Martin Luther King Jr. St. The event will include live music by the Austin band Mega’Tune. Attendees should bring blankets, chairs, and snacks.
June 17
Juneteenth Program and Festival
The Juneteenth program and festival from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, June 17, will be at the Community Center, 445 E. Morrow St. in San Gabriel Park. The program includes a keynote speaker and a musical performance. The festival, which follows, includes music by DJ Eric Sampson, a performance by Smooth and EZ Dance of Texas, children’s activities, bingo, a silent auction, and food and vendor booths.
Juneteenth Basketball Tournament
Update, June 13: The Juneteenth Classic 3v3 Basketball Tournament has been canceled due to low registration.
June 12-18
Juneteenth Photo Exhibit
An historical photo exhibit of Juneteenth celebrations in Georgetown will be featured June 12-18 in the lobby at the Georgetown Public Library, 402 W. Eighth St.
Juneteenth history
Juneteenth marks the day on June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers landed at Galveston and reported that the Civil War was over and slavery had ended. The Emancipation Proclamation freeing the slaves had been in effect since January 1, 1863, but word did not reach Texas for more than two years. Juneteenth was declared an official state holiday in Texas in 1980.
Learn more about the Juneteenth event sponsoring organizations at gccmatx.com and at gtxconnect.org.
Open house June 29 for 2021 Mobility Bond projects: Shell Road, D.B. Wood Road
The City of Georgetown will hold a public open house to provide information and answer questions about the Shell Road and D.B. Wood Road projects. Members of the public are invited to drop by the Public Safety Operations and Training Center, 3500 D.B. Wood Road from 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 29, to learn more and ask questions about the projects.
Georgetown voters approved bonds for 10 road bond and mobility projects in May 2021. Projects included in the open house are:
- Shell Road: Construct 1.1-mile roadway with four lanes and turn lanes from 500 feet north of Williams Drive to 300 feet north of Sycamore Street, with a shared use path. Estimated cost: $12.5 million. Construction completion expected in 2024.
- D.B. Wood Road north section: Construct 2.3-mile road with four lanes and turn lanes from Oak Ridge Road to Public Safety Operations and Training Center. Estimated cost: $19 million. Construction completion expected in 2024.
Design engineers have completed 30-percent design plans for both projects and will have schematic design illustrations for each project for review and feedback at the open house. Schematic designs include vehicle lane configurations and other features, such as sidewalks, multi-use paths, and drainageways.
City engineering staff and engineering contractors will be at the open house to answer questions about the projects.
Members of the public can also share feedback about the projects via an online comment box on each project page, which can be found at bonds.georgetown.org/2021-mobility-bond. The deadline to submit comments on these projects is 11:59 p.m. Friday, July 14. All public comments submitted on the projects will be reviewed and considered in the final designs.
Information on all the projects is available at bonds.georgetown.org/2021-mobility-bond.
Updated: No mosquito trap tests positive for West Nile Virus in Georgetown last week
Update, June 5, 2023—Last week no mosquito samples tested positive for West Nile Virus in Georgetown. Williamson County and Cities Health District continues weekly monitoring and testing across the County. Protect yourself by following the 3Ds:
- Defend with EPA-approved insect repellent
- Dress in long sleeves & pants
- Drain standing water
—
A mosquito trap sample collected in the City of Georgetown has tested positive for West Nile virus. This testing is part of Williamson County and Cities Health District’s (WCCHD) Integrated Vector Management program. The positive test was indicated in lab results received on May 25, 2023 from the Texas Department of State Health Services lab in Austin.
The positive sample was collected from a trap site near Geneva Park located near 1021 Quail Valley Drive, 78626. The last date a positive sample was collected from this location was October 2022.
This is the first reported West Nile virus positive trap of the 2023 season, and the earliest that West Nile virus has been detected in a mosquito sample in Williamson County since the mosquito sampling program began in 2013. In 2022, there were four mosquito trap samples that returned positive samples for West Nile virus in Williamson County. There was one human case of West Nile virus reported in Williamson County in 2022.
“With the recent rain events, we are seeing large increases in mosquitoes throughout Williamson County. As we near the holiday weekend and enjoy outdoor activities I encourage everyone to remove any standing water and use insect repellent if spending time outdoors.” said Jason Fritz, MPH, Integrated Vector Management Program Lead.
Mosquitoes are present in Central Texas year-round, but the population is largest and most active from May through November. During this period, WCCHD monitors the mosquito population and tests for mosquito-borne viruses.
Symptoms of infection may include fever, headache, and body aches, a skin rash on the trunk of the body, and swollen lymph nodes. Those age 50 and older and/or with compromised immune systems are at a higher risk for severe symptoms, which may include stiffness, disorientation, coma, tremors, vision loss, paralysis, and in rare cases, death.
The most important way to prevent West Nile virus is to reduce the number of mosquitoes where people live, work, and play. Health officials strongly encourage everyone to remain vigilant about protecting themselves from mosquito bites and preventing mosquito breeding on their personal property. Mosquitoes breed in standing water, needing as little as one teaspoon. By draining all sources of standing water in and around your property, you reduce the number of places mosquitoes can lay their eggs and breed.
What you can do:
Eliminating places where mosquitoes can breed and reducing the chances of mosquito bites are the most effective lines of defense against exposure to West Nile Virus. As part of its Fight the Bite campaign the Health District recommends the 3 Ds of mosquito safety:
- Drain standing water in flowerpots, pet dishes, or clogged gutters so mosquitoes don’t have a place to breed and treat water that can’t be drained,
- Defend by using an EPA-registered insect repellent, and
- Dress in long sleeves and pants when outdoors.
For more information, go to the WCCHD website at www.wcchd.org or visit the Texas Department of State Health Services West Nile website at txwestnile.org.
Census: Georgetown is again fastest-growing city in U.S.
For the second year in a row, Georgetown is the fastest-growing city in the U.S. for cities with a population above 50,000, according to data released today by the U.S. Census Bureau. Georgetown’s growth rate was 14.4 percent from July 1, 2021, through July 1, 2022, resulting in a population estimate of 86,507.
Georgetown added 10,887 more residents than the Census estimate from a year ago.
“Job growth in Georgetown and across the Austin metro continues to bring new residents to our city,” Mayor Josh Schroeder said. “People are moving here for the same reasons that brought many of us to Georgetown—wonderful and safe neighborhoods, fantastic parks and events, and welcoming people. We continue to adjust our plans and build new infrastructure to maintain the great quality of life for all of us who are proud to call Georgetown our home.”
Since 2015, Georgetown has been included in the list of the top 10 fastest-growing cities and topped the list in 2016 and 2022.
Georgetown’s population was 67,176 in the 2020 census. According to today’s estimate, Georgetown has added 19,331 residents since 2020.
The news release from the Census about the fastest-growing cities in the U.S. is at census.gov.