At their regular meeting July 7, Hays County Commissioners awarded a $4.68 million contract to Curran Construction for roadwork on FM 150. The county, in partnership with the Texas Department of Transportation, will be adding a center turn lane to the road from Lox to SH 21 east of Kyle.

“At intersections with schools and churches, we want to make sure that [drivers] do have a safe place to turn, so [safety is] our number one reason for this project,” said Debbie Gonzales Ingalsbe, Hays County Precinct 1 commissioner.

Hays County work crews are awaiting completion of utility relocation before construction on FM 150 can begin. Construction on the 3.8-mile segment of road is expected to begin before the end of the year and will last about one year, Ingalsbe said.

The road will be widened to allow for a 12-foot-wide center turn lane and 5-foot-wide shoulders to be added to the road.

Curran’s bid came in 10 percent under the original projected estimate, Ingalsbe said.

The project is part of the county’s partnership with TxDOT that allows the county to use funds left over from previous projects to fund road construction and improvements. TxDOT’s involvement in the FM 150 center turn lane project will be to review designs and oversee construction of the project.

The county will also host an open house at Tobias Elementary School, 1005 E. FM 150, Kyle, on July 21 from 6-8 p.m. to discuss the project. Commissioner Ingalsbe and project staff will be available to answer questions about the plan for the road.