Ranger Hill’s redesign, the famously steep incline on I-20 in Eastland, is finally complete.

TxDOT’s $76 million dollar project that started in July 2017 is done in hopes of creating a safer road.

An analysis of crash data on the TxDOT website indicates that between 2014 and 2018, there have been 83 wrecks, with one fatality.

Former member of the Texas House of Representatives Jim Keffer says some of the tragedies on Ranger Hill over the years got the attention it needed to help fund the project.

“Unfortunately, I think as the judge said in 2013 when we had 8 or 9 deaths on Ranger Hill because of either weather or fast speed or whatever the cause was finally that got people’s attention. And unfortunately that has to happen,” he said.

Before the completion of the Ranger Hill project, other modifications were in place such as reduced speeds from 75 mph to 65 mph in November 2013. Eastland County Judge Rex Fields says he believes driving on Ranger Hill will be safer.

“You hate to be known for something that’s dangerous but unfortunately that’s what we were known as for awhile was Ranger Hill is just a dangerous spot,” he said. “And not just because of the traffic but also because of the weather. We had an ice storm or snow storm, Ranger VFD would be out here. Strawn VFD. Desdemona. All trying to respond to an incident involving the slope and the curve. And now that’s all been modified and we’re so much safer.”

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