Work is expected to wrap up this month on the Texas Department of Transportation repairs on two aging bridge class box culverts north of Pecos on U.S. 285. The highway serves as a main trucking route from New Mexico south to the Rio Grande.

TxDOT is placing new concrete slabs on both structures, which were built in 1932 and widened in 1959.

The contractor is Midland-San Angelo construction firm Reece Albert Inc., which won the job with a low bid of $751,314.61 about 45% below the engineer’s estimate.

The large concrete box culverts at Sand Bend and 4-Mile Draw, which are two water courses that are usually dry, are on U.S. 285 between the SH 302 intersection and Farm to Market Road 652 at Orla.

Both box culverts have been limited to vehicles carrying 11,000 lbs. per single and tandem axle or less since August of 2008. The load limit restriction will remain in effect during the repair work.