The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has released a press release to the public of Terry County. According to TxDOT Starting Monday, Nov. 27, motorists traveling US 62/385, south of Brownfield, should anticipate various “mainlane” closures as TxDOT begins to work on a $22.7 million project to resurface the roadway and add a cable median barrier. This come as many complaints were filed with TxDOT, State Senator Charles Perry, District 83 Representative Dustin Burrows, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, and Texas Governor Greg Abbott.
From 2020 through 2022, there were 300 vehicle accidents in Terry County, of those 31% took place on the ten-mile stretch of highway on US 62/385, or from Brownfield south to Wellman. In 2022 48 of the 102 vehicle accidents that happened in Terry County occurred on the same stretch of highway. In fact, three children were killed in May 2022 when the vehicle they were riding in hit a “pool” of water and hydroplaned across the median getting “t-boned” on the passenger side ejecting two children, who were wearing seatbelts. Also, an ambulance with a patient from Andrews rolled just north of Wellman. (Related story)
The project will make various road repairs and place a new road surface on more than 10.7 miles of US 62/385, from SH 137 in Brownfield to FM 213 near Wellman, in Terry County.
Starting next week, project contractor James Hamilton Construction, of Silver City, NM, is scheduled to begin work on the northbound lanes near Wellman, at the southern end of the project limits, said Seve Sisneros, P.E., TxDOT’s Brownfield Area engineer.
“To minimize the impact to traffic on one of the area’s busiest corridors, our contractor is going to try to limit lane closures to daytime hours,” Sisneros said. “But there could possibly be an occasional nighttime closure to allow the asphalt hot mix to cure properly, or due to inclement weather.”
The project will also add a cable median barrier in the roadway’s median. To increase safety and reduce traffic conflict points, the project will also remove several crossovers along the project limits, Sisneros noted.
“Cable median barriers are designed to stop vehicles from crossing the open median and prevent the worst kinds of crashes, including head-on collisions. Over the last several years, TxDOT has been adding the cable barrier to divided highways across the South Plains and northern Permian Basin in an effort to improve safety, reduce crashes and save lives,” Sisneros said.
Drivers are advised to pay extra attention and slow down as they enter the work area for their safety and the safety of the workers. Work is expected to wrap up in mid-June and will take place weather permitting.
