Ten major road projects are reshaping Leander and Liberty Hill this month:

Ronald Reagan Boulevard widening: Seven miles from FM 3405 to Hwy. 29 with separated roadways. Construction underway since August 2024. Summer 2027 completion.

San Gabriel Parkway extension: Eastward from Isaias Drive to Ronald Reagan Boulevard. Traffic signal operational in 2026. February 2027 completion.

Legacy Ranch Drive expansion: 0.6 miles from Seward Junction North Loop to CR 258 extension. Groundbreaking March 6. Summer 2026 completion.

RM 2243/Hero Way controlled-access highway: Divided highway from 183A Toll to Southwest Bypass with frontage roads. Initial phase began late January. Early 2028 completion.

Upcoming projects: Seward Junction Loop North reconstruction (design complete, summer 2026 start), CR 201 reconstruction (fall 2026 start), CR 279/Bagdad Road improvements (right of way acquired, early 2027 start), Freedom River Parkway East and West (design phase through 2026), CR 175 widening (summer 2027 start), and CR 214 extension (design completion later this year).

Projects are funded primarily through Williamson County 2019 and 2023 road bonds.

Liberty Hill ISD broke ground on its newest elementary school, Saddleback Elementary, earlier this month. The elementary school, which is located near CR 258, will be the ninth elementary school in the district.

The details: ​​The elementary school is set to open in fall 2027 and will serve families in the Santa Rita Ranch neighborhood. The school can accommodate up to 1,000 students, according to school district documents. The district is currently planning for Saddleback students to attend classes at Louine Nobles Elementary School during the 2026-27 school year before the campus officially opens the following fall.

The context: LHISD has opened several new campuses amid projections of increased enrollment. Earlier this month, LHISD held a groundbreaking for its second high school, Legacy Ranch High School. The campus will open this fall.

Learn more about candidates Milah Flores and Casey Shepard, who advanced to the Democratic primary runoff for U.S. House of Representatives District 17.

What's new: Following the March 3 election, Flores suspended her campaign and endorsed Shepard, according to posts on her Facebook and Instagram accounts.

Check out some of the most-read stories from the Austin area May 18-21. 

1. The Pulao Company set to open this summer in Leander

2. City moving toward 2.6K-acre annexation to support decades of mixed-use development in East Austin

3. $250M Amazon warehouse, distribution center near CR 172 in Round Rock now operational

4. H-E-B plus! expansion, new fitness gym and more Kyle business news this spring

5. Berry Creek Drive in Georgetown closed due to storm damage

6. Pflugerville ISD teachers, nurses, psychologists to see pay bump in 2026-27

Dozens of federal, state and local primary campaigns will come to a close May 26 as Texas voters cast ballots in the Republican and Democratic runoff elections.

How it works: Texas held its primary elections in March, with some races advancing to an overtime round, known as a runoff, after no single candidate picked up more than half of the vote.

On May 26, voters may see statewide offices, state legislative seats, redrawn congressional districts, the State Board of Education and county-level positions on their ballots. The winner of each runoff race will appear on the Nov. 3 ballot.

At the polls: Polling places across Texas will be open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. May 26. Voters in the following counties in Community Impact’s coverage areas can vote at any polling location within their county of residence: Bastrop, Bexar, Brazoria, Brazos, Collin, Comal, Fort Bend, Galveston, Guadalupe, Harris, Hays, Tarrant, Travis and Williamson.

Registered voters in other counties are required to visit a polling place specific to their voting precinct.