The Texas Department of Transportation is beginning work this week on a $1.63 million safety project to install reflective pavement markers (RPMs) to various roads in all the Lubbock District’s 17-county service area.
The county service area includes: Bailey, Castro, Cochran, Crosby, Dawson, Gaines, Garza, Floyd, Hale, Hockley, Lamb, Lubbock, Lynn, Parmer, Swisher, Terry, and Yoakum counties.
Project contractor FC Traffic Control, of Lubbock, began the work of adding RPMs to the area’s interstates, US, and state highways (SH), and other various roadways on May 6. RPMs are designed to increase the visibility of roadway striping during inclement weather and nighttime.
Crews are scheduled to start work in Parmer, Castro and Swisher counties. No lane closures are planned during the mobile operation, but motorists can expect slow moving equipment and are urged to use caution when driving through the mobile work zone, since crews will be working in traffic.
Work is expected to wrap-up in August 2024 and will take place weather permitting.
TxDOT was scheduled to begin shifting Loop 88 traffic onto the newly built eastbound frontage road on Tuesday.
The traffic shift will allow crews to begin work on the westbound Loop frontage road.
“All Loop 88 traffic will be shifted onto the eastbound frontage road starting Tuesday,” said Joe Villalobos, P.E., Lubbock Area engineer. “Traffic will remain one-lane in each direction and will have a dedicated left-turn lane at the major intersections.”
Because of the new traffic change, drivers are asked to slow down and stay alert as they enter the work zone, Villalobos added.
The traffic change is part of a $154.8 million project to convert FM 1585 from a rural, two-lane roadway into Loop 88, a six-lane freeway with frontage roads, bridges, and ramps. Construction on Phases 3A and 3B of Loop 88 are estimated to be completed in 2026.
Work to place bridge beams on the I-27 bridge, at Yucca Lane, is scheduled to take place in overnight operations this weekend on May 10 and May 12. The work will require I-27 main lanes to be closed to traffic.
Beginning at 8 p.m., on Friday, May 10, crews will close the southbound I-27 main lanes to traffic. All southbound drivers will be detoured onto the frontage road at Exit 7/Yucca Lane exit. The lanes will reopen to traffic by 6 a.m., Saturday, May 11.
Then on Sunday, May 12, crews will close the northbound I27 main lanes and detour traffic onto the frontage road. The main lanes are scheduled to be closed to traffic from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., Monday, May 13.
Drivers are asked to use caution through the work zone 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 work is part of a $24.3 million project to improve mobility along I-27 in Lubbock County by rebuilding the Yucca Lane bridge.