San Marcos has a new road to roll on, and it's all set to take the edge off the notorious I-35 gridlock. The freshly minted FM 110 North, part of Hays County's latest infrastructure efforts, officially opened to the driving public last week, offering a much-needed bypass that circumvents the central San Marcos squeeze.
The completion of this 6.5-mile stretch of tar, running from U.S. 80 to I-35 at Yarrington Road, marks the completion of a longer 11.25-mile artery aimed at pumping traffic more effectively around the city's core. A statement obtained by Express News detailed that the $39.14 million project, with engineering by Houston-based Binkley & Barfield, Inc., includes comforts such as 10-foot shoulders, an interchange at Texas 21, and an overpass that vaults the Union Pacific Railroad tracks.
Social media buzzed with local response when news dropped on the Hays County Facebook page that the tar was finally ready for tires. The announcement, which unfolded last Wednesday, was met with digital cheers as residents tagged each other in anticipation of smoother sailing on their commutes.
According to reports by My San Antonio, the FM 110 road carries the financial backing from an alliance that includes The Texas Department of Transportation, Hays County, and the City of San Marcos. For now, vehicles will flow one lane each direction, but as the rattling of commerce and rubber grows louder, plans to expand the road to accommodate the impending upsurge in traffic are already on the horizon.
Hays County officials have alluded to the possibility of the road growing with demand. "As traffic increases over time, two additional travel lanes and additional interchanges would be constructed," the county's website suggests, prepping drivers for a future with more asphalt under wheel and perhaps less time spent in the rearview of the vehicle ahead, as per Express News. This vision for FM 110 North promises more than just a current reprieve but a pathway towards a more navigable tomorrow for San Marcos drivers.
