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Frac-Sand Mining in the Permian Basin

With the shale revolution that has occurred over the last half decade, oil and gas operators in the Permian Basin have begun experimenting with their recipes for hydraulic fracturing, most noticeably the type of proppant, or as many call it, frac-sand.

40% of all sand on the Union-Pacific rail line currently terminates in the Midland-Odessa area and with over a half dozen facilities currently operating, a half dozen more set to be operational by Summer 2018, and a total of 20 set to be online come 2019, it is fair to say that the frac-sand mining industry is booming.

Operators are largely turning to the regionally produced sand because in doing so, it reduces their frac-sand logistical costs by 40%.

Nearly all of the mining operations are located in either Ward or Winkler Counties with a few in Ector, Crane, and Upton. With outputs in the 3-5 million MTPA per facility and daily truck traffic ranging from 350-750 trucks daily, we are seeing nothing short of a frac-sand revolution.

With any great boom, comes an even greater stress on infrastructure, specifically along SH 302 and SH 18 in Ward and Winkler Counties where a majority of the mining facilities are located.

Upcoming RM 652 Projects

RM 652

Nearly $10 million in funding has been allocated along FM 6542 in the form of a bridge replacement project that is currently being completed at Salt Creek, as well as road improvements along RM 652 for 5 miles from US 285 to the Pecos River with completion expected by September 2018.

Upcoming 302 Projects

SH 302

Construction will begin this summer on this $12.5 million project, which goes from US 285 to just east of East FM 1933. The project spans about 5.6 miles. The project is scheduled to take 15 months to be completed.

US 67 Project

US Highway 67 stretches among more than a dozen counties, but with reference to our energy impacted region, the highway is seeing over $110 million in improvements underway in Irion, Reagan, Upton, Crane, Reeves, and Pecos Counties. The focus of this southern Permian Basin east-west corridor is to widen the 2-lane highway to a “Super 2” freeway which creates alternating passing lanes throughout the length of the road.

US 67 Corridor Study

In late 2017, TXDOT began a study of the US 67 corridor from just south of I-10 to the border at Presidio, Texas.  While there had been some previous improvements related to passing lanes on portions of the roadway, there are still safety issues on the portion of the roadway between Presidio and Marfa.

The corridor plan addresses safety and operational improvements to facilitate border trade and commerce, as well as tourism.  The corridor may become more significant to the energy industry in the future with a new natural gas pipeline installed along much of the route that exports natural gas to Mexico, and development of new wells in the Alpine High play.

The corridor study will be completed in 2019 and will include priority projects for consideration in various funding programs.

A link to the TXDOT website with more information on the US 67 Corridor study can be found here:

https://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/projects/studies/el-paso/us67-i10-presidio.html

US 67 Major Projects

Crane County

Project: Roadway Widening To A Modified Super 2 from Crockett County Line to Upton County Line

Length: 3.339 Miles

Cost: $4 Million

Bid Received Date: 11/1/2018

Crockett County

Project: Roadway Widening To A Modified Super 2 from Pecos County Line to Crane County Line

Length: 0.849 Miles

Cost: $1 Million

Bid Received Date: 11/1/2018

Pecos County

Project: Roadway Widening To A Modified Super 2 from IH 10 to 16.8 Miles South of IH 10

Length: 15.831 Miles

Cost: $19 Million

Bid Received Date: 4/1/2021

Project: Roadway Widening To A Modified Super 2 from 16.8 Miles South of IH 10 to Brewster County Line

Length: 11.663 Miles

Cost: $14 Million

Bid Received Date: 4/1/2021

Project- Roadway Widening To A Modified Super 2 From IH 10 to Crockett County Line

Length: 22.615 Miles

Cost: $27 Million

Bid Received Date: 11/1/2018

Presidio County-

Project: Construction Of Shared Use Bicycle And Pedestrian Facility A Long Us 67 In The City Of Marfa

Length: 0.36 Miles

Cost: $306,000

Bid Received Date:7/1/2020

Project: New Two-Lane Twin Bridge Structure For Southbound Traffic Into Mexico at the International Demarcation Line and Puerto Rico Street

Length: 0.659 Miles

Cost: $6.8 Million

Bid Received Date: 8/1/2017

Project: Bridge Replacement at the International Demarcation Line and Puerto Rico Street

Length: 0.659 Miles

Cost: $4.5 Million

Bid Received Date: 4/1/2020

Reagan County-

Project: Add Passing Lanes from SH 137 to Upton County Line

Length: 18.516 Miles

Cost: $25.5 Million

Bid Received Date: 3/1/2020

Tom Green County-

Project: Construct Interchange at Tractor Trail

Length: 1.246 Miles

Cost: $20.6 Million

Bid Received Date: 8/1/2018

Project: Construct Interchange at Paulann Boulevard

Length: 0.49 Miles

Cost: $11.8 Million

Bid Received Date: 8/1/2018

Upton County-

Project: Roadway Widening To A Modified Super 2 from Crane County Line to US 385

Length: 4.859 Miles

Cost: $5.8 Million

Bid Received Date: 11/1/2018

Project: Roadway Widening To A Modified Super 2 from SH 329 to US 385

Length: 17.964 Miles

Cost: $29.9 Million

Bid Received Date: 7/1/2019

Project: Roadway Widening To A Modified Super 2 from Reagan County Line to SH 329

Length: 10.267 Miles

Cost: $14.7 Million

Bid Received Date: 1/1/2022

US 285

Five projects worth approximately $100 million have been planned over the next few years along US Highway 285 in Reeves and Loving Counties from south of Pecos to the New Mexico County Line. The focus of these projects is on widening the existing 2 lane highway into a “Super 2” freeway which creates alternating passing lanes throughout the length of the road. Construction has already begun on the first phase of the 10-mile project from County Road 232 to State Highway 302. The rest of these projects are slated to begin by Summer 2019.

Upcoming US 285 Projects

US 385

2016 saw another important leap forward for MOTRAN with the expansion of US 385 announced by TXDOT.

The move came as part of Unified Transportation Plan revisions which authorized the department to update previous planning work on the 2 lane stretch between Crane and McCamey, as well as provide funding for the first two phases of construction on the project.

Past MOTRAN Chairman Trey Crutcher stated, “Completing this segment of the trunk system is critical to Odessa and the Permian Basin.  This will help us continue our efforts on La Entrada al Pacifico, as well as provide a 4 lane divided route between I-20 and I-10, to facilitate the needs of the energy sector.”

The Odessa District is working with consultants to update the topography and right-of-way maps, and construction on the first phase of the project is slated to begin in January of 2018, with a total projected cost of just over $56 million.

US 385 Improvement Map

SH 158

Highway 158 Improvement Map

Fix 158 Logo

SH 349

In 2010, we launched our FIX349.com campaign to build public support for the expansion of State Highway 349 between Midland and Lamesa.

Despite all our previous efforts to improve this two-lane, poor quality roadway, transportation officials did not deem the project worthy. Despite traffic increases, crashes and fatalities, and previous promises made to improve this roadway, the answer we got back, time after time, was simply, no.

That is, until they heard from you. Thousands of folks from the Permian Basin and Texas registered online with your comments and support for this project.

Today, State Highway 349 from Midland to Lamesa looks very different. As a four-lane roadway with improved shoulders and rumble strips, it has more capacity and is far safer to travel.  Work still continues on the southern cross or direct connector between SH 349 and US 87, just south of Lamesa via an expanded FM 2052. This project provides a better connection between the two roads, prevents traffic from having to connect by driving through residential and school neighborhoods to get to US 87, and improves safety at the intersection of SH 349 and SH 137.

When this project began, we never imagined we would have a real-life angel on our side. Jami and her children lost their husband and father, Mark Owen, in a tragic crash on SH 349, and our community lost a treasured soul. Jami turned the pain and grief she and her children suffered into determination and resolved to make this road safer and ensure that others would never have to experience the terrible loss she and her family did.

Her heart, determination, and leadership made this project a reality, and has taught us all how to persevere and be positive even in the most painful situations. Thank you, Jami!