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Some Austin business owners concerned about proposed changes to RM 620 South

On Thursday, TxDOT held a meeting for residents to voice their concerns about the proposed changes to the nine-mile stretch of road.

AUSTIN, Texas — On Thursday, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) held a meeting for residents to voice their concerns about planned changes to RM 620 South from State Highway 71 to Hudson Bend Road.  

A TxDOT representative said the purpose of the RM 620 South project is to improve safety and mobility along the heavily traveled corridor. Proposed improvements include:

  • Widening the existing four-lane divided roadway to a six-lane divided roadway with one additional travel lane in each direction
  • Adding raised medians
  • Adding continuous bicycle/pedestrian paths along both sides of the roadway

Shahan Bhaidani, owner of Go Wash Car Wash, said inserting medians and taking away the middle left turning lane would hurt his business located on RM 620 near Lake Travis High School

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“If you take away the left turn, they are going to have to go a quarter-mile down 620 and make a U-turn," said Bhaidani. "That is one extra hurdle they are going to have to jump through to get to our car wash.”

He added, “Any car wash business relies on traffic and a car wash is absolutely an impulse purchase, and when you introduce a hurdle to that, you take away those impulse purchases.” 

Jay Riser is a barber at Tune Up barbershop and salon off of the Capital of Texas Highway near Oak Grove Boulevard. He said it is already difficult to get to the business, but safety comes first. 

“I am all about safety. If the city feels like this is going to make the roads safer, I am here for it," said Riser. "I got kids and a wife that travel these roads all the time.” 

If approved, TxDOT will start construction in 2022. It expects it to take three years to complete.

WATCH: Safety barriers installed on RM 620

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