Commuters traveling between Levelland and Lubbock are advised to be cautious as the Texas Department of Transportation begins several roadway construction projects.
This past Monday, Lubbock and Western Railway (L&WR) have been scheduled to make improvements to the SH 114 (west 19th Street) railroad crossing, located between FM 179 (Inler Avenue) and Research Boulevard.
Work to remove and replace the planks and track with a new section will require the road to be closed to traffic for about a week. Westbound 19th Street traffic will be detoured around the work zone at FM 179 to 4th Street to Research Boulevard. Eastbound traffic will use Research to 4th Street (FM 2255) to FM 179 to continue east on 19th.
Weather permitting, the work is scheduled to be completed and all traffic returned to its original configuration by Friday, Feb. 9.
Also on Monday, Plainsman Switching will began work to replace two crossing located on Loop 331 between Loop 289 and 50th Street. Traffic will be detoured around the work zone via Loop 289 and 50th Street. Work at is expected to take about two weeks to complete.
Routine bridge maintenance and repairs are scheduled to take place overnight this week along the Marsha Sharp Freeway (MSF) main lane bridges and flyover bridge, at west Loop 289. The work will require main lanes, onand off-ramps and the flyover connecting to southbound west Loop 289 to be closed to all traffic.
Work was also scheduled to begin on Sunday night on the westbound main lanes. Westbound MSF will be closed and traffic detoured onto the frontage road.
On Monday night, crews focused their work on eastbound MSF. The road will be closed and traffic detoured onto the frontage road.
Maintenance work on the MSF flyover, connecting to southbound west Loop, will took place on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. The flyover will be closed to all traffic and traffic detoured onto the frontage road.
The closures were scheduled to begin at 8:30 p.m., each night with the lanes reopening to traffic by morning rush. Drivers are asked to stay alert and slow down as they approach the work zone.
This month,TxDOT will begin work on a $24.3 million project to improve mobility along I-27 in Lubbock County.
Work on the project was scheduled to begin Monday, with project contractor Webber, LLC., of The Woodlands, TX, setting barricades, and closing Yucca bridge in preparation of demolishing the structure.
“The bridge demolition work is scheduled to take place starting the evening of Friday, Feb. 16, and wrapping up early morning Monday, Feb. 19. The work will require all I-27 mainlanes to be closed and traffic detoured onto the frontage road that weekend,” Villalobos said.
I-27 drivers should anticipate various lane closures, traffic detours and reduced speed limits throughout the duration of the project, Villalobos added.
Drivers are asked to use caution through the work zone, since crews will be working near 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 highway construction can be frustrating, but it only takes a few extra minutes to slow down for a work zone.
The project’s completion date is scheduled for summer 2026.