SL 335

Project Overview

State Loop (SL) 335 around the City of Amarillo serves as a connection to national and regional corridors along with local arterials. The TxDOT Amarillo District and the Amarillo MPO have identified SL 335 as a top priority, transportation project candidate with the goal of upgrading the entire loop to a controlled-access freeway type facility consisting of mainlanes, ramps, one-way frontage roads with bicycle and pedestrian accommodations, and three-level interchanges (I-40 East, I-40 West, I-27 and US 87).

SL 335

SL 335 has been divided into four main segments corresponding to the quadrants:

• Southeast-Segment A
• Southwest-Segment B
• Northwest-Segment C
• Northeast-Segment D

The SL 335 Corridor Develoopment study, adopted by the Amarillo MPO in October 2014, outlines that the majority of the loop can be upgraded to a freeway by generally following the existing alignment except a portion of Segment B referred to as B-2. Sub-Segment B-2 will be generally be constructed on a new location alignment to re-route the loop around an existing portion of the loop which has evolved into an urban arterial (Soncy Road). Right-Of-Way (ROW) acquisitions/relocations and utility relocations are expected on each segment.

Amarillo Helium Plant

The SL 335 B-2 Sub-segment would require right-of-way acquisition from the Amarillo Helium Plant property located at Helium Road and Amarillo Boulevard. The Helium Plant was previously determined eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places for its association with the federal government’s helium program as the headquarters and primary research laboratory. Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act of 1966 require that steps be taken to analyze all possible alternatives and avoid, minimize or mitigate the adverse effects of this transportation project on the Helium Plant property.  A Section 4(f) Net Benefit determination was executed based on a Memorandum of Agreement between TxDOT, Texas Historical Commission, and Advisory Council on Historic Preservation.

Public Involvement

Public input is crucial to this study's success, and all members of the community are highly encouraged to give feedback and suggestions on what improvement they do, and do not want to see. Public involvement opportunities will be posted here as they are scheduled.

Segment A, From Bell Street to Southeast 3^rd Avenue

Approximately 15.5 miles of proposed improvements that include a three-level interchange at I-40 East, mainlanes, ramps, frontage roads, grade separations at arterials and railroad crossings.  Existing alignment is a two-lane rural highway from Bell Street to I-40 East then four-lane un-divided to SE 3^rd Avenue.

• A-1, From Bell Street to Georgia Street, Approx. 3.0 Miles:
  • Mainlanes, ramps, frontage roads and grade separation at Bell, Western, and Georgia.
  • Schematic and Environmental approved in 2013.
  • Under construction with expected completion, Fall 2018
• A-2, From Georgia Street to FM 1541 (Washington Street), Approx. 0.8 Miles:
  • Mainlanes, ramps, frontage roads and BNSF railroad bridge.
  • Schematic and Environmental approved in 2013.
  • Construction completed 2018.
• .A-3, From FM 1541 (Washington Street) to SE 34^th Avenue, Approx. 9.6 Miles:
  • Mainlanes, ramps, frontage roads, grade separations and arterials.
  • Schematic and Environmental process expected start in 2019.
  • Proposed phase construction
• A-4, From SE 34th Avenue to SE 3rd Avenue (Includes I-40 three-level interchange),  Approx. 2.1 Miles:
  • Third-level bridge (SL 335) of the I-40 Interchange, SL 335 mainlanes, ramps, frontage roads.
  • Second-level bridge (I-40) of the I-40 Interchange and ramps are currently under construction under a separate I-40 project.
  • Schematic and Environmental approved Spring 2018.

Segment B, From Bell Street to Southwest 9^th Avenue

Approximately 9.9 miles of proposed improvements that include a three-level interchange at I-40 West and I-27, new location sub-segment, mainlanes, ramps, frontage roads, grade separations at arterials.  Existing alignment is four-lane rural highway from Bell Street to FM 2590 then generally a new location to SW 9^th Avenue.

• B-1, From FM 2590 (Soncy Road) to Bell Street (includes I-27 three-level interchange): Approx. 2.0 Miles. Schematic and Environmental approved in 2015, ROW acquisitions and Utility relocations in progress. Proposed phase construction.
  • Phase 1, From West of Coulter Street to Bell Street:
    •  Second-level bridge (I-27) and ramps of the I-27 Interchange, SL 335 frontage roads and grade separation at Coulter.
    • Under construction with expected completion in Spring 2021.
  • Phase II, From FM 2590 to West of Coulter Street:
    •  Mainlanes, frontage roads and grade separation at FM 2590.
    • Plans, Specifications, and Estimate (PS&E) complete.
    • Scheduled for construction Spring 2021
  • Phase III, From East of Coulter Street to West of Bell Street:
    •  Third-level bridge (SL 335) of the I-27 Interchange, mainlanes, and ramps.
    • Currently developing PS&E.

• B-2, New location alignment, From FM 2590 (Soncy Road) to SW 9th Avenue (Includes I-40 three-level interchange). Approx. 7.9 Miles. Schematic and Environmental approved in 2017, ROW acquisitions and Utility relocations in progress. Proposed phase construction.
  • Phase I, From FM 2590 to I-40:
    •  Frontage roads only
    • Under construction with expected completion in Spring 2021.
  • Phase II, From I-40 to SW 9^th:
    •  Frontage roads only and second-level bridge (I-40) of the I-40 Interchange and ramps
    • Scheduled for construction Spring 2020
  • Phase III, From North of 34^th to North of BI 40-D:
    •  Third-level bridge (SL 335) of the I-40 Interchange and grade separation at BI 40-D and ramps
    • Tentatively scheduled for construction Spring 2024
  • Phases: TBD
    • Mainlanes, ramps and grade separations at arterials

Segment C, From Southwest 9^th Avenue to Echo Street

Approximately 9.8 miles of proposed improvements that include a three-level interchange at US 87, mainlanes, ramps, frontage roads, grade separations at arterials and railroad crossings.  Existing alignment is a two-lane rural highway from SW 9^th to FM 1719 then four-lane divided to Echo.

• C-1, from Southwest 9th Avenue to FM 1719 (Western Street), Approx. 5.8 Miles. Schematic and Environment process expected start in 2018.
  • Phase 1: From SW 9^th to FM 1719
    • From SW 9^th to RM 1061: Convert two-lane to four-lane divided
    • From RM 1061 to FM 1719: Convert two-lane to freeway with mainlanes, ramps, frontage roads, and BNSF railroad bridge
  • Phase 2: From SW 9th to RM 1061:
    • Convert four-lane divided to freeway with mainlanes, ramps, frontage roads.
• C-2, from FM 1719 (Western Street) to Echo Street (includes US 87 three-level interchange), Approx. 4 Miles. Schematic and Environment process expected start in 2018.
  • Proposed phase construction
  • Phases: TBD

Segment D, from Echo Street to SE 3rd Avenue

Approximately 8.3 miles of proposed improvements that include mainlanes, ramps, frontage roads, grade separations at highways, arterials and railroad crossings.  Existing alignment is a four-lane divided highway from Echo to US 60 then four-lane un-divided to SE 3^rd.

• Phases: TBD
  •  Schematic and Environment process expected start in 2018.

Contact Us

TxDOT Amarillo District
5715 Canyon Drive
Amarillo, Texas 79110
(806) 356-3200
Email