By RICH KEITH, Four Points News

Texas Department of Transportation executed a “change order” on the RM 620 dual right-turn lane contract after it was approved for construction, a change which shortens the lanes by nearly half their approved length.

Local businesses at the intersection interceded with TxDOT, and asked for and were granted a change order to shorten the turn lanes. They requested the turn lanes begin after their driveway, according to TxDOT.

“Our preliminary plan was to extend the right-turn lanes past the Walgreen’s driveway in order to provide additional capacity during certain peak periods,” said Christopher Bishop, TxDOT spokesperson.

These turn lanes were shortened from original plans. “In order to provide a safe movement of traffic and balance the economic vitality of the business park, TxDOT agreed to modify the right-turn design,” said Texas Department of Transportation spokesman Christopher Bishop.
Photo by Rich Keith

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By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News

The Travis County Fire Marshal is investigating a recent fire in the canyon between Halsell Drive and Medina River Way in Steiner Ranch.  

Around 11 p.m. on August 14, smoke rising in the greenbelt was spotted by Nichelle and John Bielinski, residents on Medina River Way who lost their home in the 2011 Labor Day Weekend fires.

The Bielinskis took immediate action and called the fire department and raised the alarm with all the residents on their street.  

Firefighters were initially unable to locate the fire and had to spot the fire from the decks of residents on Medina River and then had to navigate to the location across the canyon.  

Residents on Halsell Drive were unable to see the fire but the smell of smoke was readily apparent.  

Fortunately, the humid conditions were not conducive to rapid spread and the fire was quickly contained and put out, said Nathasha Collmann, Steiner Firewise Committee official.

The fire began at an illegal campfire in what appeared to be a fort built by local teens.  The area was littered with soda and beer cans with no signs of food or cooking debris, leading officials to believe that this was indeed a juvenile hang out and not a homeless person’s campsite.

Photo of the campsite the morning after a fire was started. To see the video go to the Steiner Ranch Firewise Facebook page. Photo by Nichelle Bielinski

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