ELGIN, Texas — An Elgin resident has gathered more than 2,500 signatures on a petition to expand US Highway 290 through Manor and Elgin.
“Me trying to drive into Austin to try to do something with my children, we feel like we're stuck in Elgin because we can't get into Austin,” said Anthony Stowe.
Stowe said what was once a 20-minute drive is now an hour drive. He added that the increase in car congestion is causing accidents.
“Road rage has been growing, accidents have been growing,” Stowe said.
According to data KVUE received from TXDOT, car crashes have been increasing over the past five years on US 290 between Manor and Elgin. In 2020, there were 195 crashes in that stretch of highway and 218 crashes in 2021.
The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority (CTRMA) is conducting a study on the US 290 toll road, stretching from State Highway 130 to State Highway 95.
CTRMA sent KVUE a statement reading in part:
“There is not a completion date for the study at this time. The impacts of the pandemic have affected the project and further discussion on next steps are continuing internally. No date has been set however to finalize the study.”
Tanvi Varma on social media: Twitter
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