TxDOT provides update on projects around the Amarillo area

AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — The Texas Department of Transportation provided an update for various projects happening around the city including projects on I-27 and I-40.

If you have driven on the interstate or highway in Amarillo in the past couple of months, you know that construction has been taking place. Around Amarillo, various projects are taking place, including on I-27, I-40, and State Loop 335.

“Of course, we have a lot of projects that are happening on the major interstates, on Interstate 40, Interstate 27. You have the widening project between Amarillo and Canyon, which is going to be widening it from four to six lanes, we know that is a major roadway that is traveled by thousands of people each day, and that work just began back in July.” said Jason Britsch, TxDOT Amarillo district public information officer. “Right now, it’s a lot of culvert and bridge work that’s happening right now and then some major work will be following besides that and then of course, we have our 27, from southwest 45th to I-40 interchange, where we are doing some major upgrades to the roadways, repaving it, and improving the Washington Street exit and entrance ramps that way it’s a little easier to accommodate the frequent travelers that are on that roadway as well. Then we have a lot of the bridge work that is happening on I-40 both eastbound and westbound that has been going on for a few months now, “

IH-27 from SW 45th Avenue to IH-40: Paving operations are currently underway in both directions of IH-27 and are expected to be completed in October. The Washington Street exit and entrance ramp improvements have been completed. The $30 million project is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.

IH-27 from South SL 335 in Amarillo to US 60 split in Canyon: Crews are currently performing culvert and bridgework on the US 60 to IH-27 bridge. The $312 million project is expected to be completed by December 2028.

Amarillo Boulevard and BNSF Railroad Bridge: Crews resumed work on the project this month after the previous contractor was put on default. The $5 million project is expected to be completed in December 2024.

SL 335: SW 9 th Avenue to FM 1719 (Western Street): Crews are currently working on the bridges, shared use paths, traffic signals, and electrical elements. In mid-September, there will be a traffic switch from Tascosa Road to SW Ninth Avenue as crews continue to work. The $133 million project is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.

IH-40 Bridgework :

• Overlay operations have been or are currently being performed at the following bridges on IH-40:
• IH-27 interchange
• Tyler/Harrison Street
• BNSF Railroad
• Arthur Street
• Ross-Osage Street
• Traffic delays are expected to be reduced starting in mid-September. The projects are expected to be completed by the end of October.
• Hope Road Bridge: Bridge demolition began in mid-August. The upgrades to the bridge include increased vertical clearance for the IH-40 freight corridor as well as pedestrian and bicyclist accommodations along Hope Road. The $10 million project is expected to be completed in early 2025.
• Crockett Street Bridge: This is a bridge deck replacement project and crews began work on it this month. Traffic will be down to two lanes in the area. The $4 million project is expected to be completed in early 2025.

Britsch added it’s a duty and responsibility to make sure these roads are as safe as possible.

“We want to make sure these are proactive moves and we are not reacting to something in the future, so we are doing all of this to get ahead of these roadways with the amount of traffic that is going to be going on these roadways,” said Britsch.

Britsch said the reason for all of these projects happening all at once is funding and timing, as well as contractor availability.

“A lot of these projects are planned five, six years in advance. They have to go through a lot of designing, a lot of engineering, a lot of approval before they get done and it just so happens a lot of these projects happen within the same time frame of whenever they are supposed to be done and also it’s a manner of financing and getting funding available from the state and federal. Recently, we got an increase in funding to the Amarillo district, so we wanted to make sure we were spending it on major projects that needed to be done in our district, so that is why you are seeing a lot of those projects that are happening now,” said Britsch.

Britsch added he understands the frustration of drivers with the constant construction as those with TxDOT have to drive those roadways as well.

He added that just be mindful when you enter the work zones, so those workers can make it home safely at the end of the day.

“The safest thing you can do is put your phone down, slow down, and just have your head on a swivel to make sure you are completely aware of the traffic changes that are happening within those work zones,” said Britsch.

Britsch added you can go to their social media for updates on when there are going to be any major traffic changes or traffic projects and he said for general information, you can go to their website.

Below is an at-a-glance view of the TxDOT Highway Conditions Map. For a more detailed view of current traffic conditions, camera views, signage and other alerts for the TxDOT Amarillo District, click here.