The Moore County News-Press: Where you'll learn about Moore people Visit us online at 04/07/2025
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) will hold two public meetings in Dumas on April 7 as part of the agency’s ongoing feasibility study of the eventual upgrading of U.S. 87/287 between Dumas and Amarillo to become part of an expanded Interstate 27 stretching from Mexico up through the Panhandle and eventually all the way to Canada, according to Jason Britsch of TxDOT in a press release.
TxDOT officials are currently seeking public input on the leg of the project that will go from State Loop 335 to north of Dumas. It is a continuation of the process begun in December of 2024 when TxDOT conducted two initial public meetings in Dumas on the project. At that time, TxDOT officials said they anticipated additional meetings in the spring where they would present the results of the study so far — as well as some initial plans and proposals — to the public and seek further input.
Britsch said TxDOT was seeking to “analyze current and future transportation, safety, and mobility needs along the U.S. 87/287 corridor, aiming to identify feasible concepts for upgrading the route to interstate standards.”
The meetings will be from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. on April 7 and take place in the Moore County Community Building at 1600 South Maddox Avenue in Dumas. People will have the opportunity to interact with TxDOT officials and make their views on all aspects of the project known.
There will be a similar pair of meetings in Amarillo on April 8 at the same times at Diversity Church located at 5631 Pavillard Drive.
There will also be a virtual meeting online beginning April 7 at 2 p.m. To take part and view those materials, go to TxDOT.gov, keyword search “I-27 Feasibility.” People will have the opportunity to make comments and ask questions during the virtual meeting.
Materials from all the meetings, as well as public comments and responses from TxDOT, will be available to view online at the TxDOT website “once they have been prepared.”
The public comment period begins April 7 and goes to April 23. People have the opportunity to leave comments online throughout the period. To have comments included in the official record of the study, they must reach TxDOT or be postmarked by April 23.
Among the issues having a major impact on Dumas to be decided for the project will be the route around the city. Proposals include a loop around the city, a bypass to the east, or a bypass to the west. Built to interstate standards, the highway would be too wide to go through the city.
