Hays County finishes safety upgrades at dangerous intersection

HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A construction project years in the making meant to make U.S. Highway 290 safer for drivers has wrapped up in Hays County.

The project includes newly constructed retaining walls at U.S. 290 and Trautwein Road, along with a new traffic signal and pedestrian railings.

The work lowered the road at the intersection, improving visibility for drivers, and added a dedicated right-turn lane from westbound U.S. 290 to Trautwein. This intersection, located east of Dripping Springs, has seen significant traffic growth in recent years. According to TxDOT, traffic volumes on U.S. 290 are expected to double by 2045.

“As a commissioner, it's incredibly rewarding to see the completion of the US 290 at Trautwein
Road project, a critical improvement for our rapidly growing community,” Hays County
Commissioner Walt Smith said in a statement.

Hays County and TxDOT collaborated on the project, which began in February. Drivers dealt with detours until the work was completed in August.

Previously, county leaders noted that the intersection had been the site of major accidents. TxDOT data shows that from 2019 through 2024, there have been 33 crashes at or near the intersection.