Williams Drive bridge and I-35 overnight closures this weekend

Williams Drive Bridge closedStarting Friday, April 21 at 10 p.m., northbound and southbound I-35 frontage roads will close at Williams Drive to switch traffic to the newly constructed portion of the Williams Drive bridge. The original Williams Drive bridge will be closed. The frontage roads will reopen and traffic will move to the new portion of bridge by 9 a.m. on Saturday, weather permitting.

Then, on Saturday, April 22 starting at 10 p.m., crews will demolish and remove the remaining portion of the original Williams Drive bridge. The northbound and southbound I-35 mainlanes will close between Lakeway Drive and SH 29. Northbound I-35 traffic will exit at Williams Drive (exit 262) and re-enter at Northwest Boulevard. Southbound I-35 traffic will exit at Williams Drive (exit 262) and re-enter at SH 29.

I-35 frontage road and Williams Drive bridge closuresThe new Williams Drive bridge will also be closed during Saturday night’s demolition. 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 and turn left at Lakeway Drive to access Williams Drive.

All lanes will reopen to traffic by 10 a.m. on Sunday, weather permitting.

See project details at my35construction.org/projects/williams-drive.

Updated: Williams Drive bridge and I-35 frontage road closings overnight

Map showing closures on Williams Drive bridge over I-35 and the I-35 frontage roads at the intersection.
Updated April 17: There will be overnight closures on the Williams Drive bridge and I-35 frontage roads at Williams Drive from 9 p.m.-5 a.m. Monday, April 17 through Thursday, April 20. (Same closure and map as last week.)

The Texas Department of Transportation will close the Williams Drive bridge over I-35 and the I-35 frontage roads at the Williams Drive intersection overnight April 10-13 for paving work.

Beginning on Monday, April 10 through Thursday, April 13, the northbound and southbound I-35 frontage roads will be closed at Williams Drive at 9 p.m., nightly.

Look for detour signs for these overnight closures.

All lanes will reopen to traffic by 5 a.m. each day, weather permitting.

The closures are for the ongoing work for the diverging diamond interchange at Williams Drive and I-35.

Road signs will be placed to alert drivers of the upcoming closures. To learn more about this project, visit my35construction.org/projects/williams-drive.

Updated: Winter storm cleanup information

Updated Monday, April 10, 3:26 p.m.

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This page outlines resources and options as we work through the aftermath of the winter storm Jan. 30-Feb. 2, 2023. Click any of the topics below to be taken directly to that section.

Tree debris cleanup

Trees touching a power line must be reported by emailing customercare@georgetown.org. Please include “Winter Storm 2023 Electric Meter” in the subject.

To find out whether you live inside the Georgetown city limits, please enter your address into this map. Georgetown city limits are denoted by the light orange shading. If you still aren’t sure, please email customercare@georgetown.org.

Special, curbside limb collection: In-city residents only

A special curbside collection of tree limbs for city residents ended Friday, April 7. Residents should email their address to customercare@georgetown.org if they:

The special collection started Feb. 27. If a resident did not place storm-related tree debris on their curb by Feb. 27, the City could not guarantee pickup.

There was no special fee assessed to city residents for this limb collection and residents did not need to register for the service; however there were some guidelines they needed to follow.

The City’s contractor started pickup Feb. 27 and will work from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week until they went through the entire city. This work concluded April 7, 2023.

For answers to frequently asked questions about this special collection, see the FAQ section below.

Curbside limb collection details
Regular Texas Disposal Systems services: Georgetown residents and some municipal utility districts

Georgetown residents and some municipal utility districts* have several options through their regular Texas Disposal Systems services. Call TDS at 512-930-1715 with questions.

*These three services are also available to the following Municipal Utility Districts:

  • Berry Creek Highlands: Located at the west side of Hwy. 195 at the southeast corner of Hwy. 195 and Shell Spur Road
  • Parmer Ranch (a.k.a. Northwest Williamson County 2): Located east of Williams Drive and to the west of CR 245, on the north and south side of Ronald Reagan Boulevard
  • Parkside on the River (a.k.a. Parkside on the River MUD 1 and Williamson County MUD 25): Located south of Hwy. 29 at Water Oak Parkway and north of RM 2243/Leander Road between the Preserve Subdivision and the River Ridge Subdivision
  • Oaks at San Gabriel (a.k.a. West Williamson County 1): Located north of Hwy. 29 and east of the Cimarron Hills subdivision
  • Teravista (a.k.a. Williamson County MUD 15): Located east of I-35 and north of University Boulevard
  • Water Oak (a.k.a. Williamson County MUD 25): Located south of Hwy. 29 at Water Oak Parkway and north of RM 2243/Leander Road (north side of neighborhood)
  • Cimarron Hills (a.k.a. Williamson County MUD 26): Located along Hwy. 29, west Oaks at San Gabriel neighborhood.
  • Crescent Bluff (a.k.a. Williamson County MUD 30): Located west of I-35, south of Hwy. 29 and west of the Water Oak subdivision
Residents in the extraterritorial jurisdiction

The monthly, regular services listed above are available to in-City residents and eligible municipal utility districts, because of the fees they pay. The special curbside limb collection and additional drop-off location were paid for with City property taxes. Residents in the extraterritorial jurisdiction, who do not pay those costs, are not be eligible for any of these services.

Residents in the ETJ and commercial customers should contact their solid waste provider to learn about their options. You also can hire a private contractor or haul debris to a collection site—fees and limits apply. 

Storm debris drop off

Here are some other resources for residents and businesses who need to drop off tree and storm debris (see above for information about the additional drop-off location free for Georgetown residents):

  • Georgetown Transfer Station, 250 W.D. Waldon Drive: $8.25 per cubic yard (a pickup truck bed is about 3 cubic yards, so would cost about $25)
  • Organics By Gosh, 2040 FM 969 (in Austin): Pickup Truck $32; trailer $62
  • Killeen Transfer Station, 12200 Hwy. 195: Nonresidents pay $4.62 per 100 pounds (a pickup truck bed is about 3 cubic yards, so would cost about $40)

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Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

Special curbside collection

The City of Georgetown contracted with a landscaping firm to pick up tree limbs in City limits that resulted from the winter storm Jan. 30-Feb. 2, 2023. This FAQ addresses key questions about the special pickup.

It’s April; why hasn’t my debris been collected?
The City ended its special curbside pickup of tree-limb debris April 7, 2023. If you live in the City limits, had your debris to your curb by Feb. 27, and your debris has not been collected, please email customercare@georgetown.org.

Only natural debris from Winter Storm Mara was collected. The contractor  visited each street only once.

I missed the special collection service. What options do I have with my natural debris?
If you live inside the city limits or qualifying MUDs (see list above), your best option is to place your tree and limb debris by the curb on the first recycling day of the month. Debris must be in bundles, a personal container, or a compostable paper bag.

Your next best option is to schedule a bulky waste pickup from Texas Disposal Systems.

Georgetown + qualifying MUD residents may also drop off up to 3 cubic yards (about one pickup truck) of yard trimmings each month at the Transfer Station, 250 W.L. Walden Road. Please bring a copy of your utility bill to show proof of residence to have your fees waived.

Am I eligible for the special curbside tree debris pickup?
The City’s contractor collected tree debris left on the curb by Feb. 26 of every resident living inside the city of Georgetown. To find out whether you live inside the Georgetown city limits, please enter your address into this map. Georgetown city limits are denoted by the light orange shading. If you still aren’t sure, please email customercare@georgetown.org.

This complimentary service was funded by the City’s general fund, so only City of Georgetown residents were eligible for this service. All other area residents should refer to the options listed above. 

When will the tree limb pickup begin and end?
The City ended its curbside pickup Friday, April 7. The City worked with our contractor to move as quickly and efficiently as possible while assuring the work is done safely and completely.

Tree limb pickup started Feb. 27. Limbs and brush needed to be piled at the curb by Sunday, Feb. 26. Pickup crews will worked 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week.

The cleanup effort was conducted street by street across the city. A contracted debris monitor accompanied the contractors to monitor the work.

How much will I be charged for the special tree limb and debris collection?
There was no special fee assessed to Georgetown residents for this limb and debris collection. The cleanup was a City service provided to residents funded by the general fund, so only City of Georgetown residents were eligible for this service.

Who performed the special curbside pickup?
The City hired a private contractor to provide the special curbside pickup service. A contracted debris monitor accompanied the contractors to monitor the work.

What if I am a senior, disabled, do not have the necessary equipment, or the limbs are too large/heavy for me to place at the curb?
Neither City staff nor its contractors went onto private property beyond the street edge to cut up trees or limbs or move material to the curb. Those who need help cutting up or removing tree limbs can contact the Austin Disaster Relief Network or should hire a private company.

Were the City contractors required to have any identification?
Information was provided to the City’s contractor that states they are working for the City and there will be a City escort with each contractor.

Would the City contractor contact me personally or asking for any type of payment?
No. The City’s contractor for limb and debris removal did not knock on doors or trying to contact residents. If needed, City of Georgetown employees would reach out to contact you about the collection at your residence. No contractor working for the City of Georgetown would have asked for information or payment from you.

Be aware that after a severe weather event, debris removal and repair contractors may be coming to our area and contacting residents. If you do choose to hire a firm to remove limbs or debris, do not make any payments before the work is completed.

What if I have other questions?
If you have additional questions that were not addressed in the FAQ, please contact City of Georgetown Customer Care at customercare@georgetown.org or call 512-930-3640.

Trees in the rights of way

If a damaged tree is in the public right of way, and the property owner acts to trim or cut down that damaged tree, can they be reimbursed by the City? If the property owner does not act, will the City come out and maintain that tree?
If a tree is on private property, but in the public right of way, it is the individual property owner’s responsibility to maintain the tree.

Will the City reimburse property owners for damage to their property from a tree that is on private property but in the public right of way?
If a right of way tree damages private property, the resident should remove the tree and address any damage through their private insurance. The City will not go on private property to remove or cut down trees or limbs. The City will not reimburse the homeowner.

If a cable or communications line is damage, who will make the repairs?
The telecommunications company that owns and maintains the line will make the repairs. The City’s Electric Utility is in close communication with both Optimum and Frontier to advocate for quick resolution of downed telecommunication lines.

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Debris cleanup Tweetalong

On Feb. 27, the City’s contractor, business name?, began curbside pickup of debris from Winter Storm Mara, which hit Georgetown in early February. We wanted to take our residents on a behind-the-scenes look and ride along with Lenny Claypoole, who has been working with Global Emergency Services for several years.

The contractor has deployed seven trucks to work throughout the City cleaning up debris placed along the street by residents in the city limits. Find out more about the curbside pickup, including answers to some of our most frequently asked questions elsewhere on this page.

Claypoole said his tips for people with curbside tree debris is to make sure it’s:

  • Not under trees or utility lines
  • Away from electrical boxes or hydrants, and
  • Not behind cars parked on the street.

Crews are working as quickly as they can, and these barriers can make it difficult to get the job done. He also said residents shouldn’t worry if they see a truck skip a brush pile. The driver will be back. There are several reasons they may skip one or two piles on your street, including that the truck may need to turn around to best get around obstacles or to be in a better position to collect those specific piles.

The trucks’ trailers can carry up to 158 cubic yards of debris. While it seems like a lot, watching them work to collect debris, it’s surprising how quickly those trucks fill up. Claypoole said he appreciates how welcoming Georgetown residents have been and asks that people be patient as the crews continue to work. In some of the harder-hit areas or areas with a lot of trees and overhead utility lines, it may take longer for crews to get through the neighborhood.

While the City does not have a neighborhood schedule for pickup, crews are working and will collect all debris that has been left at the curb as of Feb. 26. Items left after the trucks have passed through neighborhoods will not be collected.

Check out our Twitter feed to see our Tweetalong!

Tree limbs & downed electric lines

The City WILL NOT go on private property to remove or cut down tree limbs. If you are a Georgetown utility customer and have tree limbs on power lines, DO NOT touch them. This includes limbs on feeder lines along the street or on service lines between your house and a pole.

Please report any downed power lines to customercare@georgetown.org and include “Winter Storm 2023 Electric Meter” in the subject.

For limbs on electric feeder lines along the street, the electric utility will remove the limb and make any needed repairs.

For limbs on a service line from a pole to your house, or for damaged or disconnected service lines, you must work with the City to disconnect/reconnect your electric service. Report the downed line to customercare@georgetown.org. Once the request is received and processed, our crews will disconnect electricity while the repairs are made by the private contractor hired by the resident. City electric crews will not be making repairs on private property.

Cable companies are responsible for their lines. We have notified the local cable companies that they have compromised lines in Georgetown.

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Removing and pruning heritage trees

If you had a heritage tree damaged in the winter storm, make sure you take pictures and store them somewhere you can easily find them later. This may help with future pruning or removal permits.

Not sure if your tree qualifies as a heritage tree? The Heritage Tree classification applies to any of the following tree species that has a diameter of 26 inches or larger: Live Oak, Post Oak, Shumard Oak, Bur Oak, Chinquapin Oak, Monterey Oak, Bald Cypress, American Elm, Cedar Elm, Pecan, Walnut, Texas Ash, or Southern Magnolia.

For more details or questions, please email planning@georgetown.org.

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Reporting damage

The State of Texas, Williamson County, and the City of Georgetown have issued disaster declarations due to the winter storm (Read the City’s disaster declaration). If you experienced any damage to your home or business from this winter weather, fill out this survey to help state officials document damages. Damage can include cost of spoiled food from power outages, frozen pipes, and roof or solar panel damage from falling limbs. Do not include broken or damaged trees, as this reporting only considers damages to homes and businesses.

To receive help from the federal government during a disaster, states need to submit a preliminary damage assessment that details the severity of the damage. The assessment will determine whether the federal government needs to provide aid and how much money will be available to residents.

This report does not replace notifying your insurance company or guarantee assistance.

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Electricity

For Georgetown electric utility outages, check our online outage map. If you don’t see your location included in the outage, please call 512-930-3640, then press 1 to report it. Our system will recognize your number if it’s tied to your utility account.

Many Georgetown residents may not have City electric. Other area providers include Oncor and PEC.

There were no Electric Reliability Council of Texas-mandated rolling outages for Georgetown during this storm event. Grid information and statewide electric supply and demand can be seen in real-time at ercot.com.

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Council meeting broadcast technical problems

We are experiencing technical difficulties with the live broadcast of the April 11, 2023 City Council workshop and meeting today on the website, GTV channel 10, and on Facebook Live.

To watch tonight’s regular meeting, which starts at 6 p.m., please come to the Council and Court Building, 510 W. Ninth St.

We will post a recording at gtv.georgetown.org as soon as we can make it available.

We apologize for the issue and are working to troubleshoot the problem.

Last day to register to vote April 6

Vote Here sign in front of Georgetown City Hall.

The last day to register to vote for the May election is April 6. For information on voter registration, go to this site:

Incumbent Josh Schroeder and Jonathan Dade are candidates for Mayor. Incumbent Council Members Shawn Hood (District 2) and Jake French (District 6) are both are unopposed.

According to a new state law, if a candidate in a single-member district is unopposed, but an at-large race in the jurisdiction is contested, then unopposed candidates will appear on the ballot.

Early in-person voting is April 24-May 2. Election day is May 6. View early voting and Election day polling places, dates, and times.

For details about the city election, go to government.georgetown.org/city-secretary/elections.

Williams Drive bridge and I-35 frontage road closings overnight

Map showing closure on Williams Drive and northbound I-35 frontage road at Williams Drive

The Texas Department of Transportation will close the Williams Drive bridge and the northbound I-35 frontage road at Williams Drive from 9 p.m.-5 a.m. Sunday, April 2 through Thursday, April 6.

Look for detour signs for these overnight closures.

All lanes will reopen to traffic by 5 a.m. each day, weather permitting.

The closures are for the ongoing work for the diverging diamond interchange at Williams Drive and I-35.

Road signs will be placed to alert drivers of the upcoming closures. To learn more about this project, visit my35construction.org/projects/williams-drive.

I-35 mainlanes and Williams Drive bridge overnight closures: Updated

Updated: Nightly full closures both nights for the northbound and southbound I-35 mainlanes for demolition of Williams Drive U-turn bridge

    • Friday, March 31, 9 p.m. – 10 a.m.
    • Saturday, April 1, 9 p.m. – 10 a.m.
I-35 at Williams Drive detour map for I-35 mainlanes and for Williams Drive bridge.

REVISED CLOSURE: The Texas Department of Transportation will close the northbound and southbound I-35 mainlanes on Friday and Saturday nights to demolish and remove the existing U-turn bridge at Williams Drive.

On Friday, March 31 and Saturday, April 1, the northbound and southbound I-35 mainlanes will close to traffic between Lakeway Drive and Hwy. 29, at 9 p.m. nightly. Northbound I-35 traffic will detour 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. All lanes will reopen to traffic by 10 a.m. each morning, weather permitting.

The Williams Drive bridge will also be closed during the demolition. 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 attached detour map.)

Road signs will be placed to alert drivers of the upcoming closures. TxDOT asks the traveling public to be patient and remain aware when traveling through the work zone. To learn more about this project, visit My35Construction.org.

Georgetown launches power outage text reporting service

Beginning April 10, Georgetown electric utility customers will receive a text message letting them know they are now enrolled in the City’s real-time, power outage texting service.

Once launched, enrolled customers will be able to report electric outages and receive real-time updates via text message to and from 512-930-8400. Water outages must still be reported by phone, and future updates to the system will include water outages in the texting process.

Customers should still track water and electric outages on the City’s online outage maps and only report outages not already reflected on the maps. The City will not automatically text residents about power outages; instead, customers can send text messages to the system to report outages and learn about status updates.

“When services are interrupted, folks need information quickly, and this system lets us do that,” said City Manager David Morgan. “It’s critical for us to be able to send and receive power outage messages in real-time, and we know our customers are looking forward to having a more automated process to report and learn updates about outages.”

The City will automatically sign up residents using the phone number(s) associated with their utility account(s). Customers will also be able to enroll by texting ELECTRIC to 512-930-8400.

“The success of this service depends on our customers making sure they’ve given us the contact information for their accounts,” Morgan said.

Electric customers who do not have phones capable of receiving text messages may still report outages not reflected on the online outage maps to 512-930-3640, then press 1. The City’s phone system will recognize the number if it’s tied to the utility account.

TextPower serves 175+ utilities providing text messaging (SMS) solutions for mission-critical applications for immediate communications with customers via their trademarked SmartAlerts platform.

City facility closures April 7, 9

City of Georgetown offices and facilities will be closed Friday, April 7, for Good Friday. Most facilities with Sunday hours will also be closed Sunday, April 9, for Easter. There will be normal solid waste and recycling collection.

City offices closed April 7

The City offices and facilities closed April 7 for Good Friday include the following:

  • City Hall, 808 Martin Luther King Jr. St.
  • Council and Courts Building (including Municipal Court), 510 W. Ninth St.
  • Georgetown Municipal Complex, 300-1 Industrial Ave.
  • Parks and Recreation Administration, 1101 N. College St.
  • Planning Department, 809 Martin Luther King Jr. St.
  • Public Safety Operations and Training Center, Police Records, and Fire Support Services offices, 3500 D.B. Wood Road

 Additional closures

 City of Georgetown facilities with weekend or evening hours will observe these closures:

  • Animal Shelter, 110 W.L. Walden Drive: Closed April 7 and 9
  • Art Center, 816 S. Main St.: Closed April 9
  • Grace Heritage Center, 817 S. Main St.: Closed April 9
  • Public Library, 402 W. Eighth St.: Open April 7; closed April 8-9
  • Recreation Center, 1003 N. Austin Ave.: Closed April 7 and 9
  • Tennis Center, 400 Serenada Drive: Closed April 7 and 9
  • Visitors Center, 103 W. Seventh St: Closed April 7 and 9

 Facilities open

  • Airport Terminal, 500 Terminal Drive
  • Collection Station, 250 W.L. Walden Drive, will be open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Garey Park, 6450 RM 2243, will be open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

GoGeo paratransit bus service

There will not be service Friday, April 7.

Trash and recycling

There will be regular recycling and solid waste collection for City of Georgetown customers on Friday, April 7. Please place carts at the curb by 7 a.m. on your scheduled pickup day. For questions, call Texas Disposal Systems at 512-930-1715.

City seeks feedback on future of downtown

The City is asking residents to share how they use downtown Georgetown and what they’d like to see improved as we work to update our Downtown Master Plan.

The City is undertaking a comprehensive assessment of our historic downtown district to create a vision for future land-use, facilities, programming, and conditions to ensure the continued success of this storied district for years to come. Over the next year, the City and its consultant, Design Workshop, will be investigating and analyzing our existing downtown area, comprehensively engaging the public, researching national trends and best practices, developing and evaluating recommendations, and documenting our findings.

“We urge you to be a part of this process by participating in our numerous community engagement opportunities to ensure all voices are heard throughout this year-long planning process,” Downtown & Tourism Director Kim McAuliffe said.

Members of the public can share feedback through this survey, which closes April 10. Representatives from the City and Design Workshop also provided information and input opportunities at the Williamson County 175th celebration March 10-11 and will present initial findings and additional information at the City’s 175th celebration, which will be during the Red Poppy Festival in the South Main Arts District on April 28-30.

At this stage in the plan-development process, the City is asking for information from the community regarding why they visit downtown, what they like about downtown, what they’d like to see expand or grow, where there are areas for improvement, and any other related feedback to incorporate into the plan update. Residents can also sign up to receive email updates on the plan at the bottom of the project website.

The City’s first Downtown Master Plan was developed in 2003. That plan was updated in 2014 through a collaborative effort between City staff, the Downtown Master Plan Advisory Committee, and residents. As the plan was revised, the City strived to maintain the downtown’s historical character, invest in economic development that not only enhances the lives of area residents, but increases the sustainability and financial standing of Georgetown.

The City will provide additional opportunities during the next several months for the public to continue to provide input and inform the plan.

More information can be found at georgetowndowntownmasterplan.com.