Texas Border Business
By Roberto Hugo González
As South Texas braces for an impending arctic blast, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Pharr District is taking proactive measures to ensure road safety across its eight-county service area. Deputy District Engineer Rex Costley shared details about the district’s preparations following a winter weather meeting earlier today.
“Today’s meeting for the upcoming Arctic blast that we’re going to experience here in the Pharr Texas District involved our maintenance sections and area offices operations group,” Costley explained. “We are identifying the hotspots and trouble areas, getting the brine ready, and handling all logistics. It’s about planning and communicating effectively because we know it will get cold.”
Costley emphasized that this is a collaborative effort involving various stakeholders. “It’s a constant change. We have statewide calls, we’re looking at meteorologist reports, and we are in close communication with our partners at the National Weather Service. We strategically plan for the upcoming event; it’s more about preparation than reacting to it.”
Costley urged the public to prioritize safety and patience during the upcoming weather event. “Don’t weave in between our vehicles. We respectfully request patience and awareness as you see our units; give us space. Trust that we’re doing our job to keep the roadways safe and passable. During those operations, give us more space and be patient. Ultimately, it will get warmer, but we need time to do this safely.”
Reflecting on recent support provided to Fort Worth during their winter weather challenges, Costley stated, “A good shout-out to the employees we sent to Fort Worth. It’s one TxDOT team. We’ll take that experience that our guys received in Fort Worth, communicate the plan of what to expect, and we’ll be better prepared for that here in the valley.”
Ongoing Updates
The TxDOT Pharr District is committed to informing the public as the weather event unfolds. Costley assured that updates would be sent throughout the weekend, emphasizing the importance of preparation and teamwork in facing the arctic blast.
Residents are encouraged to monitor TxDOT’s channels and stay informed about road conditions through DriveTexas.org for the latest updates.
