Work will begin soon near the intersection of Highway 18 and County Road 404 to help improve safety and access for a sand mine near Monahans, a Texas Department of Transportation official said.
The privately funded project to add a left turn lane, as well as acceleration and deceleration lanes on Highway 18 in Winkler County is scheduled to begin the week of Feb. 19. The work leads to the entrance of Vista Proppants and Logistics sand mine, a TxDOT news release said.
County Road 404 is about 12 miles north of Monahans. Lane closures will be necessary at times while work is being done. A pilot car will be in use during work hours during the day and the road will be open at night. The work is expected to take about two months to complete, the release said.
TxDOT said the work is being done in the interest of safety for the traveling public, as well as Vista’s employees and customers.
TxDOT is working on more than a dozen different projects involving sand mines in the region. Many of the companies are working on agreements to pay for improvements at locations that expect to see heavy commercial truck traffic totaling hundreds of vehicles a day, the release said.
“We are committed to establishing effective partnerships with companies who need improvements in access and transport operations at their facilities,” Odessa District Engineer John Speed said in a prepared statement. “It’s an indicator of deep commitment to the safety of their employees and their neighbors. The cost of these types of improvements can easily exceed seven figures, so it’s significant when a company is willing to pay for them. These road changes will reduce the chances that accidents might occur around their facilities, so we’re thrilled to have this kind of partner in transportation safety.”
Vista will pay the costs directly. Donation agreement paperwork filed with TxDOT lists a value of $2 million. The work is being completed by Jones Brothers Dirt and Paving of Odessa, the release stated.
