Dripping Springs Road Project Breaks Ground Next Week
The $8.9 million improvement of Old Fitzhugh Road starts Nov. 16, while other Austin metro infrastructure projects face delays or lane closures.
By Leila Reynolds ·
Construction on the Old Fitzhugh Road improvements in Dripping Springs will begin on Nov. 16. The Texas Department of Transportation granted final approval for the work, which is designed to enhance traffic flow, pedestrian access, and the overall appearance of the corridor. The project was designated a priority by the local Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone Board in the spring of 2017.
The total cost of the Dripping Springs project is $8.9 million. Funding is shared among the City of Dripping Springs, the Dripping Springs Water Supply, the Hays County Parks and Open Space Advisory Commission, and TxDOT. Work is scheduled to continue through October 2028.
In Bee Cave, city council members approved a funding agreement with TxDOT in October for improvements at the intersection of Highway 71, Hamilton Pool Road, and Bee Cave Parkway. The plan calls for pavement widening, new turn lanes, signal replacements, and pedestrian facilities. The city will spend $2.8 million on Bee Cave Parkway, while the state will contribute $3.7 million for Highway 71 and Hamilton Pool Road. Officials have not set a start date because TxDOT requires a resolution of support before finalizing the Advanced Funding Agreement.
Other ongoing work in the metro area includes the widening of East Pflugerville Parkway from Colorado Sand Drive to Weiss Lane. Crews are expanding the road to four lanes. The southwest side of the Lake Pflugerville Trail is closed to users from Oct. 19 through January for trail improvements and road work.
In Kyle, crews are installing a 24-inch water transmission line from the FM 1626 tanks to the water well at Benner Road and Kohlers Crossing. The right lane of westbound traffic on Kohlers Crossing between FM 1626 and Benner Road has been closed since Sept. 21. The closure is expected to last through December. The project, funded by 2025 Certificates of Obligation Bonds, costs between $6.4 million and $7 million and is scheduled to finish in April 2027.
Two projects in the region have recently completed. A new two-lane roadway alongside the existing route from CR 254 to CR 289 in Georgetown opened to traffic on Aug. 24. The county renamed this road Tucker Parkway. In Round Rock, a four-lane divided roadway extending over Brushy Creek from Creek Bend Boulevard to Old Settlers Boulevard opened on Oct. 22.
