Megan Navarro
DRIPPING SPRINGS — To accommodate the region’s growing population, Hays County is working to improve the mobility and enhance safety on Fitzhugh Road between RM 12 and the county line.
With an average of 4,400 travelers daily, Fitzhugh Road currently faces challenges, including narrow lanes and shoulders, pavement deterioration and sight line obstructions, leading the county to look at how to meet the immediate needs of the corridor.
“Currently, Fitzhugh Road is a narrow, two-lane roadway that serves as a key east to west connector for many parts of Hays County,” said Kelli Culp of the Fitzhugh Road Safety Study Communications Team. “Throughout recent years, many businesses and residents have moved out to the area, increasing travelers along the corridor.
Proposed improvements to the corridor were determined by a safety study completed in the spring of 2024 — funded through the Hays County Transportation Department — and community feedback from an October 2024 public meeting.
The study found that crashes in the corridor occurred disproportionately as single vehicle crashes in between intersections or as single vehicle crashes at unsignalized intersections. From 2019 to 2023, more than 50 crashes occurred along the corridor, with 54% of those being non-intersection related, 30% as unsignalized intersection crashes and 16% at the RM 12 and Fitzhugh Road intersection.
The study also consisted of field surveys and improvements identified through the study are being made within the existing county right-of-way. Proposed improvements — according to materials from the second and final open house in August 2025 — include installing shoulders with rumble strips, updating pavement markings, installing guardrails with delineators and additional signage.
According to materials from the final open house in August 2025, Hays County is also evaluating potential improvements at high-crash locations:
RM 12 at Fitzhugh Road: Left-turn lanes and additional signage
Trautwein Road at Fitzhugh Road (scenario A): Realignment of Crumley Ranch Road and Trautwein Road, as well as a four-way stop
Trautwein Road at Fitzhugh Road (scenario B): Additional turn lanes on Crumley Ranch Road, Trautwein Road and Fitzhugh Road
Trautwein Road at Fitzhugh Road (scenario C): Realignment of Crumley Ranch Road, Trautwein Road and Fitzhugh Road, as well as a roundabout intersection
Barton Creek Crossing: Realignment of Fitzhugh Road
The preliminary construction cost estimate is approximately $3.3 million, according to Culp. This option assumes the improvements would be completed within the existing county right-of-way.
However, Hays County is currently identifying funding sources for the design and construction of these improvements, therefore, there is not a current timeline for completion.
“The Hays County Transportation Department provided funding specifically for the safety study, which began in February 2024. At this time, there are no funds allocated for construction of the improvements identified through that study,” Culp said.
While there will not be any more open houses on the study, community feedback will still be accepted through Sept. 5. To read more about the proposed improvements, or to submit input, visit www.fitzhughsafetystudy.com.
