A safety-improvement project that could take six years to complete is coming to a dangerous stretch of Texas 46, Kendall County commissioners heard Tuesday.
Among other betterments, the Texas Department of Transportation is adding turn lanes at seven intersections, a 4-foot centerline buffer and a barrier at Webster’s Curve.
The 12-mile stretch of roadway between Bandera County and Interstate 10 West has long been a concern for residents in both Kendall and Bandera counties, prompting Boerne-area residents to circulate a petition urging TxDOT to implement safeguards.
Scores of wrecks including fatalities have plagued the twisting, up-and-down roadway winding through the Hill Country.
TxDOT Area Engineer Charles Menendez told commissioners on May 26 the project faces several challenges, including the highway’s age.
“Right now, we do know that vehicle travel speeds are exceeding the typical original design speed,” Menendez said. “And when we look at the factors that contributed to those crashes, 21% of those were speed related.”
To address immediate concerns, TxDOT plans to install pre-formed rumble strips along the centerline this summer, in addition to adding warning signs and improving pavement markings.
“We want to make sure the signs we have in place — if there’s anything we can add to that, we want to add as well — and really highlight the no-passing zones and make sure folks understand that it’s not safe to pass anywhere along the corridor given the amount of traffic and the high speeds we have,” Menendez said.
In addition to the short-term improvements, TxDOT presented long-range concepts that include four-lane divided highway options featuring barriers, curbs and roundabouts designed for both high- and low-speed traffic patterns.
The short-term project is expected to finish in two years, while the final schematic design is projected to take up to six years.
Officials said funding for both phases has already been secured.
The full report is available at www. kendallcountytx.gov/DocumentCenter/ View/3772/ TxDOT-Planning-Presentation- May-26-2026-version- 2-PDF.
“We want to … make sure make sure folks understand that it’s not safe to pass anywhere along the corridor.”
— Charles Menendez, TxDOT area engineer
