Motorists traveling along Hwy. 71 in Bastrop County might notice less time spent at traffic lights after the Texas Department of Transportation made adjustments at the FM 1209 intersection.

The details

Jeffrey Barker, a spokesperson with TxDOT, told Community Impact that the adjustment came after TxDOT workers analyzed traffic patterns at the intersection.

“We made timing adjustments for a Harry Potter event back in November 2024, and then it was adjusted back shortly after the event,” he said. “Our signals team has since monitored the intersection quite frequently, recently made another timing adjustment and will continue to make minor adjustments as needed.”

What we know


TxDOT is also tackling several projects that will further enhance travel from Bastrop to Austin as part of Hwy. 71 East Corridor plan, including:
“Hwy. 71 serves as a major corridor for drivers traveling to and from the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, the city of Bastrop and other Central Texas communities,” TxDOT said in a news release. “With continued growth in Travis and Bastrop counties, TxDOT is improving Hwy. 71 to enhance safety and address congestion by eliminating signalized intersections.”
The outlook

Plans for the Hwy. 71 and FM 1209 intersection improvement project include:
  • An overpass
  • Frontage roads
  • Bicycle and pedestrian accommodations
“This would improve mobility by allowing Hwy. 71 through-traffic to flow through the area without stopping,” TxDOT said in a statement posted to its website.