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The four-lane, 3.2-mile divided parkway will connect Interstate-35 to Ranch Road 12.
Construction began on the project in December.
Melissa Millecam, communications director for the city, said it has been on the drawing board for years.
“The parkway will take heavy truck traffic out of neighborhoods and let them go directly to the interstate,” Millecam said. “It will create greater ease of access of the growing population that’s going to western Hays County and relieve congestion in neighborhoods.”
Mayor Susan Narvaiz described the road as “our first premiere gateway into the community.” She said the roadway will decrease emissions, and help the city meets its clean air goals. It will help with the noise and safety concerns associated with heavy traffic.
“We can’t wait to get the traffic out of downtown and onto the roadway,” Narvaiz said.
The project is slated for completion by October, but Millecam said it is running ahead of schedule and could open as early as August.
“The drought was bad for a lot of reasons, but it was good for road construction. We were able to get ahead,” Millecam said.
Mike Sexton, engineer for Kellogg Brown & Root, said bicyclists will benefit from the new road because it includes 10-foot wide shoulders. A mile-long hike and bike trail is also incorporated, he said.
Millecam said the Wonder World expansion costs $26.38 million and is the largest transportation project in San Marcos history in terms of funding. She said voters approved the project in a 1998 bond election.
The Texas Department of Transportation agreed to reimburse the city during the next 10 to 20 years based on the parkway traffic volume.
“The state will pay us back $3 to $6 million per year,” Millecam said.
Narvaiz said the city did not ask the county for a contribution.
Millecam said the parkway will provide visual beauty and convenience to motorists.
“The road is surrounded by park land, it’s a beautiful view, especially when you’re coming from Ranch Road 12,” Millecam said. “It’s really much higher than the Hunter Road area. It’ll be a beautiful drive.”
Sexton said wildflowers will be planted to beautify the project.
“The city has gone the extra mile to make this more than another piece of asphalt on the road,” Sexton said. “It’s not just a new road. It’s a showcase for the community.”
Millecam said because the parkway runs through an environmentally sensitive area that is mostly designated park land, development will be limited along the road. Preliminary steps were taken because of the nature of the land.
“It goes through the hill country and a recharge zone into the Edwards Aquifer,” Millecam said. “We took precautions and spent a good deal of money on environmental work, archaeological studies and litigations.”
Sexton said he created accommodating designs to prevent pollution from spilling into the Edwards Aquifer, and ditches were re-aligned to avoid cutting down trees.
The city is also rebuilding the intersection at Wonder World Drive and Hunter Road in association with the expansion project.
“It’ll certainly be done in the near future,” Millecam said. “We expect to have the intersection done by the first of the year, weather permitting, and that can be a big caveat.”
Narvaiz said she eagerly awaits the completion of the new parkway.
“We look forward to opening this project and getting it in the hands of residents who have envisioned it and paid for it,” Narvaiz said.
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