The vision for the Cottonwood Properties continues to come into focus. Development options and strategies for the highly coveted, 250-acre site are contingent on the design of the future CR 132 bridge over US 79; plans also depend on additional access along US 79, which will provide major entry and exit points to the Cottonwood site.
The Cottonwood Properties are located just north of US 79, between Fritz Park and CR 132.
Hutto City Council and Hutto Economic Development Corporation (HEDC) Board Members recently held a joint work session where City engineers proposed a list of three viable design options for the overpass.
The group unanimously agreed to proceed with the option that best allows for smooth traffic flow on US 79 and CR 132, while also providing the most desirable access points into the Cottonwood Properties to further drive economic development.
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) recently agreed with and provided support for this option, clearing a major hurdle to allow for the conceptual design process to continue.
The chosen design option includes a proposed elevated intersection above US 79. This new exchange would function much like a traditional intersection and would allow for free traffic flow on US 79, complete with traditional exit ramps along US 79 to connect travelers to CR 132 and the Cottonwood Properties.
The overpass would bring traffic over both the railroad and US 79, drastically improving safety at the exchange and providing Hutto drivers with another alternative route to travel north and south without delays at railroad crossings. At final buildout, the new CR 132 is projected to be up to six lanes, serving as a critical piece of Williamson County’s vision to ultimately transform CR 132 into a north-south thoroughfare—connecting Chandler Road to FM 1660 South.
Engineers are also analyzing the feasibility of adding a new signalized intersection along US 79 to the west of CR 132 to allow an additional entry point into the Cottonwood Properties.
City engineers are now revising concept design layouts, based on feedback from the City Council, HEDC Board, and TxDOT. A formal presentation to City Council to approve the final layout is expected in the next few months. Stay tuned!