State Rep. Erin Zwiener (D-Driftwood) has raised concerns about portions of a planned Darden Hill Road expansion project in Hays County, warning that elements of the current design could create traffic safety risks near a new high school and worsen congestion on an already-strained roadway. The project was originally introduced as part of a Hays County bond proposal. Zwiener said the plan was presented in a way that made it difficult for residents to assess its broader regional implications. The expansion is divided into multiple segments. Zwiener expressed general support for Project 24, which would extend Darden Hill Road from Sawyer Ranch Road to RM 1826 to improve access to the new high school. However, she raised more significant objections to Project 25, which would extend the road from Sawyer Ranch Road to FM 150. According to Zwiener, Project 25 is designed to function as part of a larger regional bypass in coordination with three other projects — numbered 22, 23, and 27. She said the combined effect of those projects would route commuter traffic from US 290, west of Dripping Springs, onto RM 1826 in front of the new high school campus, increasing both volume and speed of vehicles passing through the area. "As currently envisioned, the Darden Hill Road expansion project could create unintended safety risks, particularly for students travelling to and from the new high school," Zwiener said. “There is a responsibility to ensure that necessary infrastructure improvements do not come at the expense of safety.” Zweiner said that RM 1826 has already seen growing congestion and serious accidents. Projects 22, 23, and 25 remain in the design phase. Zwiener is encouraging community input during that process, describing it as an opportunity to shape outcomes that prioritize safety and local mobility before plans are finalized. For more information on the Darden Hill Road expansion project and contact information, visit www.improve150.com/darden.
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