Transportation
BY KAROLINE PFEIL
TxDOT pursuing new median project
The discussion
Resident feedback on preliminary plans drew attention to the lack of a median break at the only entrance to The Homestead neighborhood. In response, the median break was shifted to Great Divide Drive, providing relief to neighborhood residents like Lou Anthony. “The original plan was going to be a big problem for us in the Homestead ... and they listened,” Anthony said. Although the medians present problems for her business entrance, Epps Body & Paint owner Melissa Takamatsu said increased safety was worth it.
Work on the project is estimated to begin in fall 2025, but TxDOT waited until public feedback closed on Nov. 1 to finalize the locations of median breaks. There will be 15 breaks in total to allow for easy access to neighborhoods and shops off the highway, plus seven improved pedestrian crossings. Costing around $2 million, the project is expected to last six to nine months. Most of the project work is anticipated to take place at night when possible, TxDOT Public Information Officer Antonio Luján said, and TxDOT will work with Bee Cave and Lakeway to inform residents of when and where to expect closures.
A project aiming to reduce fatal crashes on Hwy. 71 by implementing medians has been put forth by the Texas Department of Transportation. The Hwy. 71 Safety Improvement Project will be fully funded by TxDOT and is designed to reduce the risk of crashes on a 6-mile stretch of Hwy. 71, between Uplands Ridge Drive and Bee Creek Road. By introducing new medians, crashes on this stretch can be reduced by up to 39%, said TxDOT engineer William Semora Jr. Semora emphasized that the project’s focus was primarily on reducing the number of fatal crashes.
Number of total crashes
200 150 100 50 0
Project limits
Pedestrian crossing improvements
Proposed median breaks
+25%
BEE CREEK RD.
2019 2020 2021
2022 2023
SERENE HILLS DR.
SOURCE: TXDOT/COMMUNITY IMPACT
COLORADO RIVER
620
VAIL DIVIDE
CORAL STONE WAY
More info
PEDERNALES SUMMIT PKWY.
BEE CAVE PKWY.
ACACIA DR.
After the public has weighed in on the proposed plans, TxDOT will share updates on the project at Bee Cave’s Nov. 12 City Council meeting, after press time, Bee Cave Mayor Kara King said. “Anytime there’s good communication where you solicit feedback from the community, I think you ultimately end up with a better project and one the community will support,” King said.
DEL DIOS WAY
BEE CAVES RD.
PALERMO DR.
71
N. JOINT ACCESS RD.
WILLIE WAY
HAMILTON POOL RD.
GREAT DIVIDE DR.
SHOPS PKWY.
UPLANDS RIDGE DR.
N
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