Passing lane project making safety and mobility improvements

CASTRO COUNTY — The Texas Department of Transportation is scheduled to begin work next week on a $54.3 million project to add passing lanes to US 385 in Castro and Lamb counties. Alternating passing lanes will be constructed every two miles along the 37-mile corridor between the Deaf Smith County Line and US 70 in Lamb County.

“In addition to making roadway and drainage improvements, the project will widen segments of the roadway to add passing lanes along this busy agriculture corridor,” said Heath Bozeman, P.E., TxDOT Plainview Area engineer and project manager. “The passing lanes, what TxDOT calls Super 2 or alternating passing lanes, will allow drivers to pass slower moving traffic at designated intervals and are expected to improve safety and mobility.”

Contractor Duininck, Inc., of Roanoke, TX, is scheduled to begin placing barricades along the northern Castro County project limits, north of the city of Dimmitt, this week and begin work on Monday, May 20, to make culvert improvements, before moving onto road widening and pavement work. 

Work is scheduled to progress south towards Dimmitt. No work is planned through the city of Dimmitt.

Once work is completed in northern Castro, crews will then begin work to construct passing lanes between US 70 in Lamb County and SH 194 in Castro County.

“Motorists traveling on US 385 should anticipate speed limit reductions and daily lane closures with traffic being guided through the work zone via pilot car. Delays and slow-moving traffic and construction equipment should be anticipated," Bozeman noted.

Work is expected to wrap-up September 2025.