KCI played a leading role in improving one of West Texas’s most heavily traveled freight corridors through the Texas Energy Sector Rural Improvement Program.
Located within one-half mile of an at-grade Texas and New Mexico Railroad (TXNRR) crossing, the SH 302 and SH 115 intersection was experiencing traffic delays from four daily trains and heavy freight. The $238M project focused on rehabilitating SH 302, adding passing lanes, and constructing a bridge over TXNRR and SH 115. Improvements also included four twin mainline bridge structures and new frontage roads and turnarounds along SH 302 to maintain access for businesses and residents while minimizing conflicts with the freight corridor.
KCI developed the schematic and PS&E to widen SH 302 from a rural two-lane road to a four-lane divided street, and provided utility coordination and relocation recommendations to reduce the risk of construction schedule delays. One of the project’s most significant challenges was executing a railroad agreement with TXNRR within five months of the Texas Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT) schematic approval. To keep the project on track, KCI led biweekly workshops with TxDOT Odessa, TxDOT Rail Division, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and TXNRR, ensuring critical action items were identified and resolved in a timely manner.
Our team’s expertise in navigating complex railroad agreements and environmental considerations was critical to advancing this high-priority project. Through effective collaboration and disciplined project management, KCI helped bring forward infrastructure improvements that support economic growth, improve mobility, and protect the traveling public across the region.
