WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas – Williamson County is working on a Long Range Transportation Plan to map out a connection to more eastern parts of the county via I-35.

It was called Arterial K, formerly Corridor K, and would extend CR 150 to the future East Wilco Expressway, which runs north to south of Walburg.

In May, the county offered a draft to residents, which was rejected.

RELATING TO: Potential Corridor K could cut through farmland in eastern WilCo

A group called Preserve Wilco Now was formed to oppose the plan. Ideally, they say, their goal would be to eliminate major new road projects in this area.

After sharing their concerns with FOX 7 Austin, the county recently drafted another broute plan, but this one introduced a whole new set of problems.

On Thursday, residents near that second route led FOX 7 Austin to Opossum Creek. This is where the district is looking for land for its project.

“I love listening to the water flow,” said nearby resident Kimberly Keller.

The region is still largely unaffected by the county’s growth. Tiny frogs and tadpoles swim playfully along the stream banks.

“My son taught me how to catch these,” Keller said as he held the frog up.

But the creek has a special place in the hearts of nearby homeowners for another reason, too.

“I have twins walking up and down the river with fishing rods,” said Mary Gaddy, a nearby resident.

Last year, when Gaddy was 22, he suddenly lost one of his sons.

“We don’t have a chance to make new memories with him here,” Gaddy said. “We only have what we have, and we’d hate to see it all destroyed.”

That’s why he joined the Wilco Greenbelt Alliance, a group asking the county to reconsider a major three-track project that would connect eastern and western Williamson County via I-35.

“This is the first point that the bridge will meet, or the first point near us, right across from us,” Keller said.

It stands at one of the points where the project can pass.

“This affects the greenbelt,” Keller said. “This is affecting a larger part of our ecological system, and who is going to speak for them?”

So they came up with another plan.

“We are asking commissioners to make a small loop to avoid other neighbors,” Gaddy said. “We don’t want to impact them and avoid this greenbelt and they might bring it back to plan b…No one wants this road to go through the area but for the sake of progress it needs to happen, we just don’t want it to destroy the greenbelt.”

They want to be heard before all the noise of growth drowns out their streams and voices.

“I stand here hoping that I can persuade you and persuade other people to consider this,” Keller said.

This highway project does not currently have any funding and will not receive funding until major development is achieved.

The district just wants an alignment done so it will be ready if growth happens that way.

The County and Commissioner Russ Boles sent the following statement to FOX 7 Austin:

“Williamson County is conducting a right-of-way preservation study for the proposed Arterial K road improvement project, which is part of Williamson County’s Long Range Transportation Plan adopted in 2009. Preservation of the right-of-way allows for future construction needs due to growth to ensure safety, connectivity, and mobility.” Construction of a highway in stages when heard.

The County is responsible for the safety and mobility of all residents, and the purpose of this right-of-way protection study is to address future growth in the area. This artery is planned as a local road using existing portions of CR 150 and CR 329 to provide future east-west connectivity as growth occurs in this area of ​​the county. Road planning is one of several tools the county can use to address the county’s unprecedented growth.

The County continues to review the potential environmental, wildlife and water quality impacts of the proposed road realignment. Commissioner Boles continues to meet with property owners personally to determine a possible ordinance and address individual property owner concerns for this future roadway.

The current proposed regulation is still in draft form and will continue to be adjusted and revised as right-of-way protection work continues. As a proposed future local road, this road will be built in phases depending on growth in the area, and the county has not identified funding for the road’s construction.

Once the work is completed, the right-of-way will be approved by the Williamson County Commissioners Court and the work will be archived for future reference. “The county will use the plan, working with property developers to ensure future transportation needs can be protected.”