MIDLAND, Texas — It has been a long time coming with the Midkiff bridge and Cotton Flat bridge, but change has made its way to the Tall City. Majority parts of the bridges opened in mid-July of this year.
Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Odessa District told NewsWest 9 how the new infrastructure is combating the infamous bridge strikes.
Maryann Cedillo with TxDOT said the number of bridge strikes were making the bridge "less sturdy and susceptible to failure." They wanted to ensure the traveling public was safe.
In came the demolition and reconstruction project of I-20 at Midkiff and Cotton Flat Road.
After a year and a half of hard work, TxDOT successfully completed a process known as "flipping the stack."
Cedillo explained that, "I-20 was running underneath, and now I-20 runs over the top."
Not only was the pattern of traffic switched, there was also a height increase of the bridge.
Midkiff Road went from 15' 9" to 17' 3" and Cotton Flat Road added three feet going from 15' 8" to 19'.
"What that is it allows trucks to still come through underneath and lessen the ability of them to strike the bridge," Cedillo said. "Since the heavier truck traffic and the those travelling through our area are on the Interstate than those would go over the top, so it minimizes, if not eliminates the bridge strikes that we had been having."
TxDOT will do routine maintenance checks on the bridge, but Cedillo said people can do their part by practicing the following safety tips behind the wheel.
"Always take your time now that I-20 is open and there's truck traffic going through there, you want to make sure that that you're watching where you're going," Cedillo said. "Making sure you're not distracted, taking your time and really know the roadway."
While the Midkiff bridge is open, there are still a few more things to check off the list with that bridge, as well as the bridge at Cotton Flat. However, very soon traffic will be free flowing throughout the Permian Basin.
Just remember to buckle up and drive safe.