New interchange will span BI-20 and railroad tracks

The Federal Highway Administration has issued environmental approval for the Texas Department of Transportation [TxDOT] to proceed with a $15.6 million project to build a new interchange spanning Business Interstate 20 and the Union Pacific railroad and connect north and south segments of JBS Parkway in east Odessa, according to a TxDOT official in Odessa.

Federal officials have determined that the project will not have any significant impact on the human or natural environment, based on a detailed environmental assessment. The final public hearing document, which includes TxDOT responses to comments by the public, is available for review at the Odessa District office.

"The new interchange will be built as part of a pair of interchanges that will create a new interstate entrance for Odessa," said Dan Dalager, the TxDOT engineer who is overseeing construction. "The area we studied extends from University Boulevard south to Pearl Street."

The interchange will connect two existing segments of JBS Parkway and will ultimately connect to Interstate 20 where TxDOT is currently building another new interchange.

"The interchange at BI-20 will be the second one built, but it will be underway while we are working on the Interstate 20 interchange and should be completed shortly after the first one is finished," said Dalager. "Construction of the first interchange started in January and the second phase could start as early as August 2006."

"Once they are done, motorists can exit the interstate at JBS Parkway and continue north into the City of Odessa's major retail district," he explained. The project is a joint effort between the City of Odessa and TxDOT.