The Texas Department of Transportation will host open houses to discuss potential I-35 projects in Hays County on Sept. 30 and Oct. 2.

The first open house will be held at Hays High School, 4800 Jack C. Hays Trail, Buda, from 5–7:30 p.m. The second open house will be held Oct. 2 at the San Marcos Activity Center, 501 E. Hopkins St., San Marcos from 5–7:30 p.m. Both open houses are come-and-go.

As part of TxDOT's Mobility 35 program, the department is examining the 23.7 mile stretch of I-35 that goes through Hays County, from SH 45 SE north of Buda to Posey Road, near the southern portion of San Marcos' city limits.

Attendees will have the opportunity to discuss potential improvements with project managers and submit comments regarding the potential projects.

TxDOT Public Information Officer Kelli Reyna said potential improvements are being considered in relation to a future project that will add one lane of travel in either direction along I-35.

"We have several projects in Hays County that are moving forward right now— the Yarrington Road bridge, one-way frontage road conversions—a lot of that is in preparation for future improvements."

Reyna said all of the plans presented at the open houses are preliminary, and none will be finalized until public input is gathered and incorporated into the plan.

Reyna said much of the open house discussions will involve innovative intersections such as diverging diamonds and continuous flow intersections. In May, TxDOT built a CFI in San Marcos at the intersection of I-35 and Aquarena Springs. Another CFI is under construction at the intersection of I-35 and Hopkins Street.

During previous open houses in March, residents expressed a desire for better access and signage to I-35 from Texas State University. Residents also expressed a desire for more turnarounds at intersections with I-35. There are currently four turnarounds being built at the intersections of I-35 and FM 150, FM 1626, FM 2001 and Robert S. Light Boulevard.

A virtual open house with the same materials and information as the other open houses will also be available online Sept. 30–Oct. 13 at www.mobility35.org.