As the construction dust settles and construction barriers are dismantled, progress is visible on road and sidewalk projects throughout the city and the long-planned projects of County Glen drainage and Sonny Drive extension may soon see the lights of a work crew.
The city’s to-do list of voter-approved capital improvement projects marked substantially complete has grown.
Updated Jan. 29, the city’s Bond Project list, available at www.leandertx.org under the document heading, shows both the first phase of Crystal Falls Parkway and the widening of the intersection of Bagdad Road and FM 2243 almost finished.
Sections of sidewalks have been poured along Bagdad Road and the city’s newest fire station offers a new landscape marker to Highway 183.

A summary of current capital improvement projects in the city follows:
• Bagdad Road North and FM 2243 Paving Improvements: roadway widened to five lanes with center left turn lanes and storm water quality treatment system. The road was widened 500 feet east and west of the intersection and 1,000 feet north. Project began: bid opened on Jan. 23, 2009. Status: substantially complete. Budget: $2,013,372.

• Bagdad Road Sidewalks: a three-phase project for sidewalks along Bagdad Road from Kettering Drive north to Bledsoe Park. Sidewalks on the west side of Bagdad will be laid in two phases and sidewalks on the east side of Bagdad from Kettering Drive to Crystal Falls Parkway in the final phase. Project began: bid opened Sept. 3, 2009. Status: Phase 1, sidewalks on the west side of Bagdad from Leander High School north to Crystal Falls Parkway, began Jan. 4. Budget: $92,774 (city cost) and $337,360 from federal grant money.

• East Crystal Falls Parkway street and drainage improvements: Two-phase project to improve road to four-lane divided arterial roadway with traffic lights, sidewalks and drainage and water quality improvements. Ronald Reagan Boulevard to U.S. 183A; and from U.S. 183A to U.S. Highway 183. Project began: Bid opened Feb. 10, 2009 for phase 1. Construction began April 1, 2009.  Status: Pavement work, striping and signage substantially complete for Phase 1. Work on southwest corner of Crystal Falls and Ronald Reagan remains. For Phase 2, design plans reviewed, utility relocations continue and coordination between Capital Metro, CTC and TxDOT for railroad crossing and traffic signals continue.  Phase 1 completion expected March 26. Phase 2 begin date unknown. Budget: $8,541,576 for both phases.

• Fire Station No. 3 and Training Facilities: Construction of third fire station and fire administration offices and training facilities. Project began: bid opened March 2, 2009. Status: Construction began Sept. 14, 2009. Burn tower components are staged for installation. Expected completion is June. Budget: $ 2,900,000.

• County Glen Drainage: Storm sewers, curbs, gutters roadways, detention pond with water quality improvements on selected streets (including County Glen Drive, Emerald Isle and Ruby Isle); at least two phases. Project began: Under review. Status: Engineering plans for phase 1 90 percent complete. Budget: Not finalized, bid and construction depends on available funds.

• Sonny Drive Extenstion: Two-lane extension of Sonny Drive from Highway 183 to Leander Drive with an additional turn lane at Hwy 183, with railroad crossing and in-line storm water quality treatment system. Project began: Not yet begun. Estimated bid date is set for March with an estimated June construction. Status: Final comments from Cap Metro on railroad crossing expected by Feb. 12, said Adam Shaivitz, Cap Metro spokesman. Budget: $1,016,853, pending availability of funds.
The Council plans to discuss and possibly take action on both the Brushy Creek North and the Block House Creek wastewater interceptors at tonight’s Council meeting.