US$2bn repair bill for Texas roads damaged by drilling trucks

Texas has been left with a US$2billion bill to repair its drill damaged roads, according to a senior state transport official. John Barton, deputy executive director of the Texas Department of Transportation, said the estimated bill illustrated the toll gas and oil production had taken on the US state's roads. Judge for the DeWitt County in South Texas, Daryl Fowler, believes DeWitt alone will require as much as US$342million to repair or substitute roads stretching 392 miles.
July 6, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
Texas has been left with a US$2billion bill to repair its drill damaged roads, according to a senior state transport official.

John Barton, deputy executive director of the 3499 Texas Department of Transportation, said the estimated bill illustrated the toll gas and oil production had taken on the US state's roads.

Judge for the DeWitt County in South Texas, Daryl Fowler, believes DeWitt alone will require as much as US$342million to repair or substitute roads stretching 392 miles. 6127 Pioneer Natural Resources and 6128 BHP Billiton provide financial contributions to the county whenever they drill a new well.

However, Fowler stressed how some firms make no contributions. He is pushing for legislative amendments to assist affected counties cover the costs related to exploiting shale gas. According to executive vice president of the Texas Oil and Gas Association, Deb Hastings, the key question is which party should cover those costs.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • American Concrete Paving Association presents award to Gary Godbersen and others
    March 17, 2016
    The American Concrete Paving Association presents awards for excellence – Mike Woof writes.
    Read More
  • Concern over condition of US bridges
    July 5, 2019
    A new report from the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA), highlighting the poor condition of many US bridges, is nothing less than a national scandal. According to ARTBA’s report, 47,052 US bridges are in poor condition, while 18,842 Interstate highway bridges have identifiable repair needs. The length of America’s structurally deficient bridges if placed end-to-end would span nearly 1,760km, ARTBA’s examination of federal government data shows. The Brooklyn (NY), Arlington M
    Read More
  • Cheaper, greener and less smelly; it’s all about the additives
    August 20, 2015
    The demand for bitumen additives is set to increase. Kristina Smith reports on some of the companies who are preparing to meet that increased demand. The variation in quality and composition of bitumen around the world is something that has been well-documented in these pages. Processing technologies for crude oil are changing, the way bitumen is traded is changing, and the final result can be a product that may not be all it seems – or huge variations from one shipment to another. Help is at hand, however,
    Read More
  • Peru’s rebuilding work to flood damaged roads and bridges
    April 26, 2017
    An extensive programme of works will be required to tackle flood damage to roads and bridges in Peru. The country’s Ministry of Transport and Communications believes that US$2.66 billion will be required to tackle the problems right across the country. However funding sources for the necessary repair work have yet to be finalised, with the added complication that some of the damaged links are operated under concessions while others are not. An estimated 3,231km of Peru’s national road network has suffered s
    Read More

Highlighted Content