Passing lane project making safety and mobility improvements

COCHRAN COUNTY — The Texas Department of Transportation is scheduled to begin work next week on a $28.8 million project to add passing lanes to SH 214 in Cochran County. Alternating passing lanes will be constructed every two miles along the 24-mile corridor between the city of Morton and the Yoakum County Line.

“In addition to making roadway improvements, the project will widen segments of the roadway to add passing lanes along this busy truck traffic corridor,” said Neil Welch, P.E., TxDOT Littlefield 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.”

Additional safety work includes realigning SH 125, at SH 214, Welch said.

“Currently, the SH 214, SH 125 connection is offset. The project will make it a regular intersection, with stop conditions on SH 125 and eliminate traffic from having to use north/southbound SH 214 to connect east- and westbound SH 125 traffic. This will improve safety.” Welch said.

Contractor James Hamilton Construction Co., of Silver City, MN, is scheduled to place barricades along the project limits next week and begin work on the culverts, before moving onto road widening and pavement work.

“Motorists traveling on SH 214 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, Welch noted.

Work is expected to wrap-up in summer 2026.