An early morning crash on U.S. 290 in Dripping Springs brought west-of-Austin traffic to a standstill Saturday, as a hazardous-materials response shut down lanes and turned the usually brisk weekend drive into a crawling detour. Emergency crews converged on West U.S. 290 at Mighty Tiger Trail, working to contain the spilled material and clear wreckage while drivers were pushed onto alternate routes and told to brace for serious delays.
What Officials Say
The Hays County Sheriff's Office said around 5:45 a.m. that deputies were responding to a crash near West U.S. 290 and Mighty Tiger Trail, according to CBS Austin. The state's incident-tracking page also noted a hazardous-materials presence and showed TxDOT confirming the crash earlier in the morning, per the same outlet.
"Traffic is being diverted for an 'undetermined amount of time,' and drivers should expect delays," the Sheriff's Office advised, as reported by CBS Austin. The station added that it had contacted the Sheriff's Office seeking additional details on the incident.
Why U.S. 290 Is Vulnerable
U.S. 290 is no stranger to this kind of gridlock. TxDOT's Oak Hill to Dripping Springs environmental study notes that crash rates along the corridor are well above the statewide average and that "one crash occurs about every other day" in parts of the study area. The agency is reviewing potential long-term safety and mobility improvements for the stretch running through Dripping Springs, according to TxDOT.
Recent Hazmat Responses
The Dripping Springs crash is only the latest hazardous-materials call on U.S. 290 in recent weeks. Earlier in May, crews dealt with a transformer-truck fluid spill near the FM 973 interchange in Manor that shut down westbound lanes and required a full hazmat cleanup. A steady drumbeat of such incidents along the corridor has intensified debates over how quickly TxDOT can roll out safety upgrades and longer-term fixes.
For now, drivers heading through the Dripping Springs area should plan on significant delays and consider alternate routes until officials fully reopen the highway. We will update this story as agencies release more information and as the roadway is cleared.
