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On Texas 130, road hogs are the feral kind
By Vianna Davila
Express-News
Updated 4:50 p.m., Friday, October 26, 2012
The opening of the Texas 130 toll road extension went off without a hitch Wednesday, with no major collisions to speak of.
But when night fell, the wildlife came out.
Vehicles and animals collided at least three times somewhere along the 41-mile road that connects southern Austin to Seguin and boasts an 85-mph speed limit — the fastest in the country.
Two hogs were hit, and one vehicle struck a deer.
No drivers were injured. The animals may not have been so lucky, though their exact fates are unknown.
On Thursday afternoon, the first vehicle rollover occurred, not far from Interstate 10.
Read more here.
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Wild hogs make impression on driver, car
By Vianna Davila
Express-News
Updated 1:48 a.m., Saturday, October 27, 2012
Victor Espana probably won't forget his first drive on the Texas 130 toll road, but not because of its much-talked-about 85-mph speed limit.
He's more likely to remember the two feral hogs he slammed into with his mom's Chrysler 300 as he sped along the road in the middle of the night.
The collision, which didn't injure Espana but left the two hogs DOA, means his first trip on the country's fastest road might be his last.
“I'll be scared to use it again,” said Espana, 19.
Collisions with feral hogs and other wild animals are common in the rural part of Central Texas.
While vehicles can hit animals on any road, Texas 130 is a brand new, wide, divided highway, connecting south Austin to Seguin, and all the small towns and hamlets in between.
For the first time, vehicles can travel at high speeds in an area where there used to be just smaller state highways and county farm-to-market roads.
Read more here.
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Toll road to get wildlife warning signs
By Vianna Davila
Express-News
Updated 11:41 p.m., Tuesday, October 30, 2012
The private company operating the Texas 130 toll road extension will install permanent signs along the 41-mile corridor warning drivers about wildlife in the area.
Since the toll road opened to traffic Oct. 24, at least three incidents have occurred in which vehicles collided with animals.
The SH 130 Concession Co. announced the sign plan Tuesday morning on its Facebook page. The signs will go up as soon as they can be made, said spokesman Chris Lippincott.
Until the permanent signs are installed, the company has put up two mobile dynamic message signs advising drivers to watch for wildlife. The temporary signs say “wildlife crossing,” the spokesman said.
Read more here.