TxDot announced that it will after all fund and construct a major roadway in Round Rock’s booming Health Hub.

The AW Grimes Road, known as FM 1460, is currently a skinny two lane road, with no shoulders, lined most of the way by ditches. Yet it is the primary artery into and out of the new Health Hub in Round Rock, which houses the new wing of the Seton Medical Center, the TX A&M Health Science Center and the TX State University’s new Nursing School. A major issue is the safe passage of emergency vehicles as they try to navigate heavy traffic on their way to the hospital. This safety issue has been the catalyst driving the push to develop this road as quickly as possible.

Phase 1 of the project, which TxDot will now fund, will widen the road between US.79 and Old Settlers blvd, allowing those EMS vehicles to zip by traffic, getting their patients safely and quickly to the hospital. While funding for Phase Two of the project is still a work in progress, the anticipated opening next Fall of the Medical and Nursing Schools has put it too on a fast-track to resolution.

“It’s great to see TxDOT back at the table with funds for this project, which is so critical to the county, the city and the region,” says Ron Morrison, Williamson County commissioner.

Source: Austin Business Journal: “Round Rock road project will move forward after all” posted Friday, October 31, 2008.