GILLESPIE COUNTY, Texas – Business owners say they have concerns about safety along Highway 290 in Fredericksburg.

Two years ago, community groups successfully worked with the Texas Department of Transportation to lower the speed limit on the stretch of the highway down to 60 miles per hour. 

The highway runs between the towns of Stonewall and Fredericksburg. In the time that has elapsed since the speed limit was lowered, residents said that not enough has been done to prevent deadly crashes from happening.

Right now, the highway has four lanes, two for both directions. Residents say the highway needs another major change.

"The only help that the [conversation] always turns to is dividing the highway. Dividing the highway would give an egress and regress for people and it would give space for oncoming cars," says Magnolia Pearl owner John Gray. 

According to TxDOT, a project like that has a price tag of $14 million. If and when that happens, what would follow is a series of environmental reviews and engineering studies.