TxDOT to widen and brighten highways in Travis, Hays, Bastrop Counties

AUSTIN – Safety and mobility improvements are coming to several area highways under contracts recently approved by the Texas Transportation Commission.

SH 71 is being widened between the Pedernales River and the Burnet/Blanco County line. Hunter Industries will install a center turn lane and shoulders on the 3.4-mile stretch. Expect daytime work to begin this spring on the $12.8 million project.

SH 304 in western Bastrop County is also being widened. Big Creek Construction will add 10-foot shoulders to a nearly 8-mile stretch of highway between FM 535 in Rosanky and the Caldwell County line. Work on the $9.3 million project should begin this summer.

A heavily traveled roadway in south Austin is getting a 12-foot center-turn lane and 5-foot shoulders. The FM 1626 improvements will be added between South First Street and Sombrero Drive. The nearly $2.3 million project is funded through TxDOT’s Highway Safety Improvement Program. Dan Williams Company should begin construction this fall.

Similar work in planned on RM 150 in Hays County. Six-foot shoulders will be constructed between Oak Spring Drive and Onion Creek, south of Dripping Springs. A center-turn lane will also be added at Darden Hill Road, to help with left-turning traffic.

The entire road will be resurfaced when the widening is completed. Texas Materials Group was awarded the $3.6 million contract. Work will begin this summer.

Also in Dripping Springs, the CR 190 bridge over Onion Creek will be replaced. TxDOT inspects all bridges in the state and worked with Hays County to fund this project.

Austin Underground Inc. will perform the $1.6 million replacement project, paid for with state and federal funds. Construction will take place over the summer, to limit impact on school traffic.

SH 130 is getting more energy-efficient lighting. All the lights on the high-mast illumination poles will be switched to longer-lasting LED bulbs. The change will save money and provide better lighting.

For inquiries, contact Bradley.Wheelis@txdot.gov or (512) 832-7060.