RR 2147 turn lanes, light in Horseshoe Bay to ease increased traffic
The Texas Department of Transportation is considering funding in 2019 for a traffic light at the intersection of RR 2147 West and Texas 71 at one of the entryways to the city of Horseshoe Bay. Staff photo by Connie Swinney
STAFF WRITER CONNIE SWINNEY
HORSESHOE BAY — To keep up with Horseshoe Bay traffic and development, state and local leaders are teaming up to add turn lanes to RR 2147 West and plan a traffic light for the Texas 71/RR 2147 intersection.
“It’s purely a safety thing. We have a bank, hardware store, grocery store and post office, and three subdivisions,” Horseshoe Bay City Manager Stan Farmer said about the RR 2147 turn lanes. “That’s a lot of people stopping to make turns that could increase the chance for an accident, so this continuous turn-lane will increase the safety for our residents and visitors.”
The Texas Department of Transportation has estimated the cost of the turn-lane project, planned for the 2018-19 fiscal year to be approximately $2.1 million. The city of Horseshoe Bay pledged to contribute about $120,000 to the package.
Segments of continuous turn lanes are proposed for about 2 miles on RR 2147 from the Ferguson Road intersection to Bay West Boulevard, just east of the Texas 71 intersection.
City officials expect to budget the municipal amount for the 2018-19 fiscal year.
“To secure (TxDOT) funding for the project, we contributed a small amount,” Farmer said.
About a decade ago, TxDOT added a continuous turn-lane from the eastern city limits of Horseshoe Bay to Ferguson Road.
Along with the more recent proposed widening project, TxDOT is also considering funding a traffic light at the RR 2147/Texas 71 intersection. The proposal followed a recent traffic count study.
“That intersection is so much more busy,” Farmer added. “The way the topography is and the speed limit on 71, it’s just not the safest intersection.”