Midland-Odessa has emerged as a logistics hub for the entire nation. With the recent destinations of I-14 and I-27 through Midland-Odessa, as well as the ancillary designation of US 385 as an interstate between I-20 and I-10, Midland-Odessa will serve as a pivot point between five interstate highways.
The connections will be critical to the energy sector, as well as agriculture and consumer goods movements. Over the long haul they will provide interstate quality connections to over 85% of the state population, 90% of the state’s workforce and 95% of the state’s domestic product.
In 2025, we were finally successful in the acceleration of the final project for Loop 250, an overpass at Todd Road and the installation of main lanes. The project will be awarded in December 2025, and when completed, will mark the culmination of years of efforts dating back to the early 1970’s. We have long held that development of completed freeway design loops in both Midland and Odessa are critical to moving people, freight, and improving safety, and made them the centerpiece of our local leveraging efforts.
Several years back, we also asked TXDOT to update their plans, schematics, and environmental review for Loop 338. Most of that work has been completed and working with the Odessa Development Corporation, we have leveraged all the projects needed to complete the process of truly making Loop 338 a freeway.
With the work underway or completed for overpasses at Yukon, US 385 Nort and South, and detailed engineering underway for additional projects like 52nd/56th, 87th, and 100th streets, we are working towards the development of Loop 338 to be a real loop. The 400 foot right-of-way and access roads will allow the traveling public an easier and safer route, as well as, opening up new areas for additional development.
TXDOT has been going through the initial planning and environmental process for the expansion of SH 349 from CR 140 just south of I-20 in Midland County to Spur 576 in Rankin. The goal of this 50-mile project is to improve mobility and safety in the corridor. Crashes on SH 349 increased by 96 percent between 2015 and 2019.
The existing roadway is primarily two lanes with passing lanes. Proposed improvements to SH 349 would include widening to a four-lane divided highway with a wide center median. Median crossovers will promote safe access and circulation for residential properties and business operations. The efficient use of existing pavement and avoidance of existing corridor infrastructure development are being carefully considered during project development.
Fixing State Highway 158 has been a long term project for MOTRAN. The roadway has been a long time priority corridor for TXDOT but little work ever took place to upgrade the two lane divided roadway. In 2011, MOTRAN began working for the upgrade of this roadway because of its significance to the energy sector, and in 2012, approval was given to upgrade the road from two lanes to four lanes.
SH 158 from Midland to Sterling City is now part of an overlapping segment of two interstate designations (I-14 and I-27). 2026 will mark the beginning of a routing study for those last 10 to 13 miles coming into Midland, as well as, the beginning of schematics and environmental review of this critical roadway.
The project will establish a baseline schematic that will allow for upgrade to a four lane divided roadway and incorporate enough right-of-way to allow for access roads needed to bring the corridor to an interstate standard.
Safety has long been a concern on this highway and have a divided roadway should have a tremendous impact on many of the crashes and fatalities we currently see.
In the interim, MOTRAN has also been supporting improvements to the 5 points intersection just south of Midland on SH 158. Below is a proposed schematic for potential improvements being considered currently by TXDOT.
The US 385 Corridor is a critical north-south component of the Permian Basin transportation network. During the Congressional designation of Interstate 14, the southern portion of US 385 between I-20 in Odessa and I-10 was designated as a future interstate due to its significance as a connector between I-10 and I-20 in the heart of domestic energy production.
Closer to home, 2026 marks the beginning of construction of a new overpass at the intersection of South Loop 338 and US 385 just south inf Interstate 20 in Odessa.
