Mayor’s Corner
Good Morning Wimberley, I would like to give you an update on road progress. TxDOT has contracted with Austin Materials to resurface and improve our area of RR12. As I am sure most of you are aware that it seems progress has somewhat stalled. Austin Material is working hard and doing the best they can. However, they are having a lot of difficulty completing the work at night because of the colder temperatures. Therefore, TxDOT will be suspending their contract until the temperatures warm up next spring. Austin Materials will not be finishing this project this year, they are willing and able to return next spring to pave our stretch of RR12. Fortunately this delay gives our Sewage Contractor the time they need to dig up along RR12 and 3237 and install the much needed sewage collection lines. It would have been a shame if not a waste for the installation to be accomplished after the road had been freshly paved. Thank God for the timing of the wonderful weather.
Subsequently, there are a few areas that Austin Material will need to address before they can stop for the colder weather. Those areas are located at several metal beam guard fence locations. At each of those locations, the contractor has formed up and reinforced the mow strip under the guard fence, but has not been able to pour the concrete. Contractors are required to pour concrete when the temperatures are 35 degrees and rising. Tx-DOT in coordination with the City has not allowed the contractor to close lanes during the daytime hours because of the heavy traffic in the area. They have recently asked for approval allowing them to place the mow strip in the next week or so during the daytime hours. They will close one lane of traffic and will provide one way traffic control during that time. You can expect the reduction in lanes to be midmorning after school and commuter traffic has cleared out. They may have to work into the late afternoon hours. Please practice patience while the work is being done.
On another point, this 5 to 6 month delay allows us the opportunity to further address another area which has been a major concern for traffic congestion. It involves the intersection of RR12 and FM3237. The plans currently include only installing a right turn lane northbound on RR12 turning onto 3237. We are working with them to also install a left turn lane southbound on RR12 turning onto 3237. As I am sure many of you are aware that even when the light is green traffic is backing up most of the way into town. Drivers will regularly go off the shoulder to get around the congestions which is causing damage to private property and a safety issue.
It appears Wimberley is becoming more and more popular a place to visit.