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Read about 2 transportation updates in Dripping Springs, Southwest Austin

Read about the following transportation projects in Southwest Austin and Dripping Springs that could affect commutes.

Upcoming projects: Old Fitzhugh Road

Project: The city of Dripping Springs is aiming to beautify Old Fitzhugh Road while improving traffic flow, pedestrian access and connectivity. The project is a priority project approved by the Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone board in the spring of 2017.

Cost: $8.9 million

Funding source: city of Dripping Springs, Dripping Springs Water Supply, Hays County Parks and Open Space Advisory Commission, Texas Department of Transportation

Ongoing projects: Oak Hill Parkway

Project: The 7-mile stretch of highway has been undergoing a $677 million facelift since 2021. TxDOT is currently reconstructing Hwy. 290 in Oak Hill, transforming the existing four-lane, undivided roadway to a six-lane divided highway with new frontage roads and 14 miles of shared-use paths, according to TxDOT documents.

Cost: $677 million allocated for the entire project

Funding source: TxDOT

 
Stay In The Know
Charli XCX, Twenty One Pilots and Skrillex to headline ACL Music Festival in 2026

Austin City Limits released its 2026 lineup, revealing headliners including Lorde and Kings of Leon, as well as Austin-based acts like The Huston-Tillotson University Jazz Collective and Grocery Bag. 

This year marks the festival’s 25th anniversary, taking place over two weekends: Oct. 2-4 and Oct. 9-11 at Zilker Park. 

Learn more: The full list of headliners also includes The xx and Rüfüs Du Sol. Other sets will also showcase music from Turnstile, Labrinth, Lola Young and The Chainsmokers. 

Other performers expected to perform at the festival are Suki Waterhouse, Rebecca Black, Natasha Bedingfield and Blood Orange. Check out the full lineup on the ACL Music Festival website. 

 
Permit Preview Wednesday
Check out 5 major Austin-area permits filed this week

From a Moxies in the Domain to a new business park in Georgetown, here are five of the most expensive projects filed with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation in the Austin metro this week.

1. Moxies ($7 million): A new Moxies location is coming to the Domain, with construction set to begin in July. 

2. Austin Ridge Bible Church ($7 million): Austin Ridge purchased the Great Hills Baptist Church facility and are working on plans for renovation.

3. Mason Phase 2 ($5 million): This project includes improvements to a single family subdivision, covering 32,000 square feet.

4. Decker Lane site work ($4.5 million): This project includes work on Decker Industrial Park for five buildings, and associated connecting roads and utilities around the building.

5. Bell Gin Business Park ($3.72 million): The project consists of constructing five 7,200-square-foot shell buildings and two 10,800-square-foot buildings for commercial office and warehouse use.

 
Statewide News
Q&A: John Cornyn and Ken Paxton face off in May Republican runoff for US Senate

On May 26, Texas Republican voters will choose their nominee for the U.S. Senate in a runoff election between incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and state Attorney General Ken Paxton.

The big picture: The Republican race for U.S. Senate is one of several statewide contests that advanced to May runoffs after no candidate received more than 50% of the vote in the March 3 primary election.

Cornyn and Paxton were the two highest-performing candidates in the eight-way primary race, with Cornyn securing 42% of the vote to Paxton's 41%.

At the polls: Early voting in Texas' runoff elections runs from May 18-22, and runoff election day is May 26.

Looking ahead: The winner of the May 26 overtime round will face the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate—state Rep. James Talarico of Austin—in the November midterm election. Third-party and independent candidates may also appear on the November ballot, and the winner of that election will be sworn in to the U.S. Senate in January 2027.

 

Your local team

Elle Bent
Editor

Heather Demere
General Manager

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