The Texas Department of Transportation's (TxDOT) ambitious $99 million U.S. 87 widening in Hartley and Moore counties plans to turn approximately 19.8 mi. of a two-lane truck freight corridor into a two-lane highway in each direction to address safety issues and increase capacity on the route.

FNF Construction Inc. began operations on Feb. 24, 2026, and expects to complete its work in 2030. State and federal funds are financing the project.

The construction zone stretches from east of the U.S. 385 Interchange to Farm-to-Market 2589 west of the city of Dumas. The widening is taking place in a rural area.

The project's goal is to spread out traffic by providing added safety to cars and more space for the tractor-trailers that often travel along the highway.

"Whenever you convert something from a two-lane road or a super 2 highway that currently exists out there and you divide it into a four-lane divided, you're separating the traffic, so you are increasing the safety and you're reducing the chances of traffic crashes happening," Jason Britsch, a TxDOT Amarillo spokesman, told Construction Equipment Guide. "That's one of the main reasons for this project.

"The project's improving mobility, connectivity and safety by providing additional roadway capacity," he added. "Additionally, this proposed project will complete this freight corridor to a minimum four-lane divided facility through the Amarillo District."

Project design started in 2021. Garver designed the project.

Schematic and environment development began in the summer of 2019. Right-of-way purchases were completed in 2024.

"Safety is always TxDOT's No. 1 priority when it comes to anything we do," Britsch said. "A little more than 5,600 vehicles travel this stretch of road daily, of which 28 percent of that is heavy truck traffic. U.S. 87 is a roadway that runs through the Amarillo District and into New Mexico and beyond. This makes U.S. 87 an integral roadway for heavy trucks to transport goods to other states."

In addition to constructing the new lanes and an outer shoulder, the project is rebuilding the existing lanes and installing new drainage infrastructure.

Cars and trucks will use the existing lanes as the two new lanes are under construction.

Initial operations have FNF crews focusing on excavation and site prep. Actual paving is expected to begin later this year.

"Like most large infrastructure projects, we've encountered a few construction challenges, and our teams have been working proactively to address them," Britsch said. "One of the main challenges has involved utility conflicts.

"During construction, we identified several utilities, including some abandoned lines, that were not precisely located or had not yet been relocated. There was also an initial miscommunication regarding where construction would begin along the corridor, which affected the timing of some utility relocations.

"Another challenge has been the natural variability of soils throughout the project area. Different soil types can behave differently when used in roadway construction, so it's important that we thoroughly test and monitor materials. Our teams routinely perform tests on factors like moisture content, density and soil composition to ensure the roadway foundation meets design standards. This helps us build a durable roadway that will perform well over time."

Managing construction alongside active traffic continues to be a priority.

The project is progressing well overall.

"FNF is working diligently to maintain steady forward momentum while meeting quality and safety standards," Britsch said. "You'll see multiple operations taking place at once along the corridor, which helps keep the work moving efficiently. We're continuing to make solid progress and remain focused on delivering the project in a safe and timely manner."

So far, FNF has not encountered any significant water-related issues.

"From a soil standpoint, conditions have been favorable," Britsch said. "Soils are showing a lower plasticity index than anticipated, which is beneficial for building a stable roadway foundation."

Clearing and grubbing operations are a key early step.

"With roughly 30 miles of roadway, there's a significant amount of land that needs to be prepared before construction can move forward," Britsch said. "This includes removing trees, vegetation and other obstacles within the right-of-way so we can begin building the new roadway. As part of this process, we've also worked closely with adjacent property owners.

"In some cases, fences within the right-of-way had not yet been relocated as anticipated, so we coordinated with those property owners to determine the appropriate next steps and keep the project on track. Overall, these operations have progressed smoothly."

Excavation and site preparation operations also are proceeding.

"This work involves clearing vegetation, removing unsuitable materials and shaping the ground to create a stable foundation for the highway," Britsch said. "Throughout this process, safety is our top priority. We take precautions to control dust, manage loose soil and prevent debris from entering active roadways."

FNF is installing several types of drainage infrastructure designed to manage stormwater and protect the roadway over the long term. This includes reinforced box culverts, as well as storm drain systems, which help safely convey water beneath and away from the roadway.

"Much of this work is currently taking place on the west end of the project near Hartley, where crews are actively installing these structures," Britsch said. "Proper drainage is a critical component of roadway construction, as it helps prevent water buildup, reduces erosion and supports the overall durability of the roadway."

This infrastructure is being installed as the roadwork proceeds.

The lane dimensions for most of the project will consist of a 10-ft. shoulder with two 12-ft. travel lanes. For the newly constructed lanes, it would feature an 8-in. lime-treated subgrade, 12-in. Flex Base Type B, 3 in. of Dense Grade B and 4 in. of Superpave Type D.

The rehabilitation of the existing roadway is based on 12 in. of emulsified treated existing material, 3 in. of Dense Grade B and 1.5 in. of Superpave Type D.

The entire roadway will consist of several turn lanes and crossovers.

"Prepping for the new U.S. 87 lanes is ongoing," Britsch said. "Our contractor is performing all of the necessary earthwork currently."

A wide range of specialized equipment is being used to support different phases of the project. That includes scrapers and dozers for earthwork operations, as well as rollers, such as sheepsfoot and pneumatic rollers, to compact the soil and ensure a stable foundation.

For paving operations, crews use milling machines to prepare existing surfaces, laydown machines to place new asphalt and striping equipment to mark the finished roadway.

"In addition, testing equipment like nuclear density gauges is used to verify that materials meet required compaction standards," Britsch said. "Supporting equipment, such as water trucks and air compressors, also helps maintain proper moisture levels and keep operations running efficiently. Each piece of equipment plays an important role in ensuring the roadway is built to meet safety, quality and durability standards."

Milling operations on existing lanes are expected to begin toward the end of 2026.

"These milling operations will be taking place within the existing Super 2 passing lane sections, where they will be removing some material on the drive lanes of these Super 2 passing lanes," he said. "However, the actual rebuilding of existing lanes is not expected to begin until late 2028 after the new lanes are fully constructed."

Busy days have 42 FNF and subcontractor employees on site.

Approximately 350,000 cu. yds. of excavated materials are expected to be removed.

"It is all being recycled into the current construction of the roadway," Britsch said.

The amounts of new materials to be brought in haven't been finalized.

FNF maintains a sizable fleet and the company said it sends mechanics to multiple sites to handle daily wear-and-tear issues and routine and scheduled maintenance. The firm buys and rents equipment from local and regional dealerships. ♣