The man behind the miles

April 9, 2024

By Cynthia Vaquera

AUSTIN — In Texas, thousands of people travel our roads every day without knowing who designed or built them.

But behind every stripe, every plan and every construction project, there are real people dedicated to making our roads safer and more efficient. People like TxDOT Deputy Executive Director of Program Delivery Brian Barth.

These are people who go through every single detail and who turn long-term plans into real projects years before the first “construction ahead” sign is in place. From workers laying asphalt on the road to those behind a desk planning how it’s done, everyone plays their part.

For 37 years, Barth has helped shape Texas roads. But his story in the transportation industry began at home, as the son of a construction contractor.

“I got interested in construction at an early age,” Barth said. “I wanted to be the guy designing projects. That’s really how I ended up at TxDOT.”

He first designed roads in the Dallas area and is now driving on the very same roads he once envisioned in his mind.

Throughout his career, Barth has watched with pride as Texas continues to evolve. So much so that today, some of his projects are being redesigned by a new generation of engineers.

“I'll tell you one thing," he said. "You know you've been in the department a long time when the first thing you designed, the current [team] is rebuilding. And it hurts a little bit to see that happen.”

While most people just see the orange traffic cones, the closures and the detours, what isn’t obvious is everything it takes to make a road happen. For Barth and for thousands of TxDOT employees, building roads is more than just concrete. It’s about protecting lives and creating a safer future for all Texans.

“What needs to be our legacy going forward,” Barth said, “is that we're known as an agency that delivers.”