Skip to main content

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

  • Ohio increases bridge maintenance programme
    November 8, 2013
    The US state of Ohio plans to invest US$120 million in repairing and replacing over 200 county and city-owned bridges over the next three years. The funds are being made available through the state’s efforts at overhauling highway funding by reducing overhead costs and improving efficiency at the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT). Work is expected to begin on the first 40 bridges next year. ODOT will work with local officials to identify the remaining bridges to repair or replace in the following yea
  • Eurasphalt & Eurobitume 2016 Congress calls for better communication
    August 5, 2016
    The bitumen industry needs to learn how to communicate with road owners, road users, and communities. This was one of the underlying themes to emerge from the Eurasphalt & Eurobitume 2016 Congress, held in the Czech capital Prague in June. Kristina Smith was there.
  • Norway’s new ‘green’ highway route
    November 13, 2020
    A new route in Norway will provide a faster and greener highway connection between the capital city Oslo and the northern city of Trondheim
  • Caterpillar’s 2016 results reflect tough market conditions
    January 31, 2017
    Caterpillar’s financial results for 2016 reflect the tough trading conditions that US construction machine firms in particular have been experiencing. In another development, the firm is looking to move its global corporate headquarters from Peoria to Chicago.