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Engineering director outlines road investments, partnerships as city shifts from maintenance to growth planning
Summary
Midland’s director of engineering told council the city has increased road investment since 2017, is wrapping up a $100 million bond program and expects $52 million in projects over the next two years; staff emphasized partnerships with TxDOT, Midland County and local development corporations to stay ahead of growth.
Gabe McClelland, the city’s director of engineering, briefed the council on March 18 about ongoing and near‑term road and drainage investments and how the city is coordinating with county and state partners.
Why it matters: The presentation framed roads as essential to safety, congestion reduction and economic development. McClelland said the $100 million road bond primarily addressed deferred maintenance and that ongoing work since 2017 has raised the city’s pavement condition index (PCI) from lower levels to about 69.
Key points: McClelland reported that - the city and partners have invested heavily since 2017 and the city averages roughly $25 million in construction contracts a year (operations and bond dollars combined); - the next two years’ program anticipates about $52 million in city projects; - the North Midland MPO/TxDOT pipeline includes roughly $700 million of projects within the boundary shown in staff maps; - the Midland Development Corporation (MDC/NDC) has contributed about $62 million to infrastructure since 2010 and roughly $5 million a year in recent years; and - Midland County averages $34–40 million annually on design and construction and remains an active partner.
Staff emphasized that the city’s strategy is shifting from addressing backlog to planning for growth, and that coordinating with TxDOT (Odessa district covers the region) and the county is essential to avoid concentrated construction that drives up costs and local contractor scarcity. McClelland and council discussed specific corridors and projects, and council asked staff to improve public communication about which roads are state‑managed (TxDOT) versus city projects and to provide maps that are easy for the public to access.
Other items discussed included project sequencing to avoid “cone fatigue,” the role of concrete versus asphalt (Gabe noted concrete can cost about 30% more), and a desire to improve corridor aesthetics (Loop 250 landscaping and sponsorships were discussed). Council members also raised school traffic and long‑term plans for new high schools; staff said they are coordinating with Midland ISD on traffic projections.
Ending: Council praised progress on the bond program and asked staff to continue transparency on project maps and sequencing so residents can track which agency is responsible for specific construction.
