TxDOT outlines RM 620 phased widening timeline; right‑of‑way nearly 80% complete through Lakeway

Orlando Vallejo, TxDOT’s South Travis area engineer, updated the Lakeway City Council on RM 620 improvements and timelines, saying the work is organized in two letting packages and remains subject to funding and project readiness.

Vallejo said right‑of‑way acquisition is the critical path: "through the City of Lakeway, we need 96 parcels or there was a total of 96 parcels identified for the project. Out of the total 96, 75 parcels have been completed," and he explained that 15 are in possession pending completion, 3 are in negotiation and 2 have petitions filed. He added that demolition, utility relocation and then construction follow completion of acquisitions, and said the first package is currently programmed to let in 2029 and the later portion in 2033 — schedules that could move earlier if acquisitions and utilities accelerate.

Vallejo also reported a safety study on raised medians indicating a 72% reduction in mid‑block crashes in the analyzed period and told council staff expects signal retiming implementation in mid‑October with one to two weeks of work in the corridor. Council members pressed for more granular traffic‑impact data for intersections and for assurances that project parcels tied to intersection breakout work would not hold up anticipated intersection improvements; TxDOT said parcel holds are limited and that design and utility coordination remain the main risk items.

Vallejo’s presentation and the council’s questions focused on schedule sensitivity, the need for an updated traffic‑impact analysis when specific site plans are proposed, and how interim intersection improvements could be sequenced to reduce construction disruption to Lakeway motorists.