Road construction and maintenance will continue in Brownfield and Terry County for several weeks. The City of Brownfield has already begun its road projects by repaving North Cedar from Tahoka Rd. to Stewart St. After the repaving of North Cedar, the contract company will move on to certain residential streets to begin seal coating. When that is complete, they will move on to pave some of the unpaved residential streets in Brownfield. The construction company is also tasked with reconstructing the drainage bridge on the south side of Park Road in Coleman Park.
The Texas Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT) Brownfield Maintenance crew is scheduled to perform routine road maintenance next week, Wednesday, Aug. 28, on FM 303, from US 62/385 to US 82/380, in Terry County. This will be a one-day, seal coat operation which will require the road to be closed, but will allow local traffic into the work zone. All other traffic will need to find an alternate route around the work area. The seal coat project on US 380 (Plains Highway) from the intersection of 1st and West Main in Brownfield to the Yoakum County line is currently a work zone, although the seal coat is finished, TxDOT will soon re-stripe the highway.
TxDOT will begin soon the repaving of Tahoka Road from Lubbock Rd. and Tahoka Rd. intersection to Gillham Park. According to TxDOT, the construction company will mill out and come back in with new asphalt. Drivers should anticipate various daytime lane closures throughout the project and no nighttime closures are expected.
TxDOT will also continue road work on US 62/385 from Brownfield city limits to Wellman and from Wellman to the Gaines County line. TxDOT has overlayed with new asphalt from Brownfield to Wellman, and now the construction company has been working at the intersection of US 62/385 and FM 213. TxDOT is also expected to make other safety improvements to US 62/385 from Brownfield to the Gaines County line. These improvements include placing safety cable barriers in the highway’s median and expanding the turnarounds and adding new warning signs.
According to TxDOT, seal coating provides a variety of benefits to the roadway including a waterproof surface that prevents moisture from entering and weakening the roadbed. Seal coating also reduces deterioration and cracking of the asphalt surface, which prolongs the life of the pavement.
Drivers can also expect slow-moving traffic and delays, and are urged to use caution when driving through the work zones, since crews will be working in close proximity to traffic and should keep the following tips in mind:.
- Slow down and always follow posted work zone speed limits. Speeding is one of the major causes of work zone crashes. Remember, traffic fines double in work zones.
- Pay attention. Workers and heavy equipment may only be a few feet from passing vehicles.
- Be patient. Delays from roadway construction can be frustrating, but it only takes a few extra minutes to slow down for a work zone.
Motorists are advised to pay attention and slow down as they approach the work area for their safety and the safety of the workers. Work will take place weather permitting.
