The problem
At a May 20 meeting, council member Kelly Brynteson and several residents voiced concerns about the safety of Flint Rock Road.
Since its widening in 2017, the curving, two-lane road has become a major arterial route for regional drivers, including large commercial trucks, cutting through from Hwy. 71 to RM 620, Brynteson said.
Residents living near Flint Rock Road also spoke of high-speed drivers and slippery road conditions in the rain, leading to several traffic accidents, including the fatal collision near the intersection of Stephanie Lane on May 13.
"Anytime it rains, on this stretch of road, it's not a matter of if a car will go into the ditch, but when," Brynteson said at the meeting.
However, the city of Lakeway only manages about 32.5% of the road, and the remaining portion is managed by Travis County, making traffic-calming measures difficult to implement at the city level, according to city documents.
By annexing the entire road from Travis County, Lakeway could implement higher road standards and more consistent police enforcement, City Manager Joseph Molis said.
The solutions
Council approved Brynteson’s motion to contact Travis County about traffic mitigation options and the potential annexation of Flint Rock Road. The motion also allowed Molis to spend up to $150,000 on improvements.
Brynteson recommended the following mitigation measures to discuss with the county:
- The addition of "no thru truck" signs
- Reduced speed limits
- The addition of stop signs
- Road resurfacing and vegetation maintenance where necessary
In the meantime, the Lakeway Police Department announced it will be stepping up enforcement on Flint Rock Road starting May 27 with the goal to reduce speeding and reckless driving.
