KERMIT — The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) informed State Representative Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) on Wednesday that a project to widen or rehabilitate more than 24 miles of Highway 302 will begin this month.

“This is one of the high priority projects we’ve been fighting for for many years,” Landgraf said. “Folks all across Winkler County and I made our voices heard loud and clear about the need to make safety improvements to 302, and TxDOT has listened.”

The project stretches for approximately 24.4 miles and begins at FM 181 in Ector County and ends at County Road 313 in Winkler County. The project, which entails a total reconstruction of the entire stretch of road and the addition of a turning lane, is expected to be completed in summer 2022. These improvements effectively make Highway 302 a minimum of three lanes for its entire length in Winkler County.

“Last summer, we celebrated record funding levels for the Odessa TxDOT district,” Landgraf continued. “Now it’s time to start adding pavement to the ground.”

Other expansions and rehabilitation work will take place later in the year on other stretches of  Highway 302 in Winkler and Loving counties.

Motorists are reminded that state law requires them to obey warning signs, flaggers and traffic control devices. A 4-foot buffer will be put in place between opposing lanes to offer a safer driving experience. The plan calls for two-way traffic to be maintained throughout the life of the project. Any stops in traffic will be short term and only exist long enough for traffic control devices to be moved into place. There will be times when lanes are closed on the four-lane section.