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Elgin officials recently gathered to dedicate what is being called a “transformative roadway project” that opens up a critical part of the city to more growth.
The Count y Line Road Phase One project turned a two-lane road bounded by a bar ditch without walkways into a four-lane, divided boulevard with sidewalks, streetlights and fresh landscaping, according to planners.
It also improves access to Elgin High School.
It is the city’s largest transportation project to date, according to a prepared release, and in- cludes 5,100 feet of new roadway, curbs, gutters and general improvements along both sides of the street.
A ribbon cutting took place Aug. 7 to celebrate the $8 million initiative.
“This project is the first phase of what will become the main northsouth thoroughfare for the majority of new residents to the Elgin community, which could include an additional 10,000 people in the near future,” City Manager Tom Mattis said.
The cost of the stretch from Carlson Lane to FM 1100 will have no direct impact on taxpayers, according to Mattis.
Funding came from properties that benefit from the added access, including the Homestead, Peppergrass, Briarwood, Harvest Ridge, Stone Creek Ranch and Eagles Landing residential developments.
The project required rights-of-way acquisitions from existing residential properties, for which the city paid more than $200,000, the city manager added. Various developers and the Elgin Independent School District donated the required access from their respective properties to accommodate the road widening, drainage improvements and sidewalks, officials added.
“We are proud of the safety features of the roadway, including a median protected for left-turn movements to allow for better traffic flow in the north- and southbound directions, dedicated accel and decel turn lanes to many of the developments and the expanding campus of the Elgin High School,” Mayor Theresa McShan said.
The improved Raymond Johnson Road intersection now allows better access to the campus, added McShan.
Future plans include the removal of the “s” curve and bar ditches along 1100. A new, closed-conduit storm sewer system will address f looding issues along the lanes, tying into the master-planned storm sewer in conjunction with the Peppergrass development, according to city representatives.
Patin Construction handled the roadway improvements and the Roy Rivers Drive Phase Two and Three projects, improving traffic control for residents and the school, officials said.
According to the city, the project included a “very complicated and challenging” series of coordinated efforts with multiple utility companies including Aqua Water Supply Corp. for a new 18-inch water main, CenterPoint for a new 6-inch gas line, Oncor for relocating all of the overhead electrical systems and providing buried lines to individual developments, AT&T for a new fiber-duct bank system, Elgin ISD for future telecommunications and service to the new elementary school in Harvest Ridge and Spectrum for cable service.
In addition, the Elgin Public Works team completed utility adjustments on its 12-inch water main as part of the project.
The betterments are needed, the mayor said, because Elgin is booming with commercial and residential construction, with a population now over 12,000.
“We are proud of the safety features of the roadway, including a median protected for left-turn movements to allow for better traffic flow ...”
— Mayor Theresa McShan said
