Both Pflugerville and Hutto are in the midst of planning several upcoming road projects.

Parkway Drive
Project: The road will be reconstructed with pavement, curb, drainage, sidewalk and streetlight improvements.
Update: At its Aug. 25 meeting, City Council approved the construction contract with Chasco Constructors for $3.1 million. Construction is set to begin in mid September.

• Timeline: mid-September-July 2027
• Cost: $3.4 million
• Funding Source: city of Pflugerville

Pfluger Farm Lane North
Project: The road will be widened to three lanes and extended to connect to SH 45.
Update: Project bidding is paused until the developers agreement is resolved with the city.

• Timeline: fall 2026-September 2027
• Cost: $7.4 million
• Funding source: city bond funds, roadway impact fees

CR 137 and FM 1660 South
Project: The project includes construction of additional lanes and a roundabout at the intersection of CR 137 and FM 1660.
Update: A change order was approved for $26,768 in additional funds to add a school walkway in August.

• Timeline: May 2026-April 2027
• Cost: $9.1 million
• Funding source: Hutto Economic Development Corp.

A Round Rock and Hutto-area optometrist is opening a new office this month.

About the business: The clinic is owned by Dr. Ashish Patel, who said he has worked locally for seven years.

The office will provide eye exams, contact lens examinations and fittings, and medical eye care as well as a curated selection of eyeglasses and sunglasses.

In their own words: “We believe every patient deserves time, attention, and a thorough understanding of their eye health and vision needs,” Patel said in an email to Community Impact. “Our goal is to build lasting relationships with our patients and become a trusted part of the community for years to come.”

• 4450 University Blvd., Ste. 140, Round Rock

Two candidates are listed on the Nov. 3 ballot for Williamson County clerk. Nancy Rister has held the position since 1998, and is not seeking reelection.

The details: Responsibilities of this elected position include issuing marriage licenses, acting as a recorder of deeds, taking depositions and maintaining county records. Clerks serve four-year terms.

Early voting for the Nov. 3 election runs from Oct. 19-30.

Read Q&As with each candidate below. Community Impact reached out to all candidates who will appear on the Williamson County clerk ballot. Candidates were asked to keep responses under 50 words, answer the questions provided and avoid attacking opponents.

Austin has the largest concentration of at-risk homes of any metro area outside California, with more than 100,000 properties and $49.2 billion in reconstruction cost value exposed to wildfire, according to Cotality's 2026 Wildfire Risk Report. 

Travis County remains under a burn ban as hot, dry conditions keep wildfire risk elevated heading into fall.

The ban: Travis County's burn ban has been in effect since Aug. 11, prohibiting outdoor burning countywide, and stays in place until Commissioners Court lifts it. 

Residents can sign up for free burn ban status text alerts by texting TCBURNBAN to 888777.

Why it matters: The county's wildfire preparedness push traces back to the Sept. 4, 2011 Steiner Ranch Fire, which this year marks its 15th anniversary. 

"We don't celebrate this as a celebration," said Robert Abbott of Lake Travis Fire Rescue, "but we do celebrate the fact that we have learned quite a bit from those events," pointing to major gains in staffing, training and technology since then, and current conditions eerily similar to those in 2011.

The Texas Department of Transportation manages over 200,000 miles of state highways. Roughly 72% of all vehicle travel in the state occurs on TxDOT-maintained highways, TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams said.

As Texas’ population continues to grow, so does “demand on our transportation systems, from busy urban corridors to rural communities,” Williams told lawmakers during an Aug. 17 hearing held by the Texas House Transportation Committee.

What's happening: More than 11,000 TxDOT projects are currently in the works, according to the agency’s website.

To keep motorists informed about road construction, TxDOT collects public input during the project planning process, then conducts outreach on social media, on project websites and through email notifications before and during closures, according to Eric Lykins, TxDOT’s senior director of district operations. The agency also places electronic message signs on roadways ahead of closures or detours, he said.

Some state lawmakers are encouraging transportation officials to improve outreach to motorists when roads, lanes and exits are closed or adjusted.