Special School Zone, Safety Projects Approved

Special School Zone, Safety Projects approved with more than $10.1 million for road safety work in four counties

Austin – The Texas Department of Transportation’s commitment to safety and good roads takes another step forward with three new maintenance contracts and a special school zone in Travis County.

The Texas Transportation Commission recently awarded the contracts worth more than $10.1 million in Travis, Hays, Williamson, and Lee counties.

A special school zone for traffic along FM 969 near Decker Lane in east Austin was approved in an effort to enhance safety along the roadway.

The decision to create the special school zone was made after crashes involving parents, children and teachers attending several private schools on the south side of FM 969, including KIPP Austin and Discovery School, had occurred. The school zone installation should be done in February 2017.

Keeping drivers in their lanes is an important safety feature on the highways. Roadsafe Traffic Systems, Inc. won a $2.1 million contract to place reflective striping and raised pavement markers on I-35 in Travis County. The two-year contract begins next year.

Guardrail is also an important safety device to keep drivers from hitting fixed objects close to the pavement or from driving off the roadway. In January, K-Bar Services, Inc. will start a two-year contract worth $5.7 million for guardrail repairs, replacement, and upgrades on I-35 in Travis, Williamson and Hays counties.

In Lee County, Hunter Industries, Ltd. will widen, repair and seal coat FM 2239 between FM 448 and the Bastrop County line.

The work will add shoulders and upgrade drainage along and across the highway. The work is expected to begin early next year and take about six months to complete.