ENVision, Volume 3, Issue 2, Fall 1997 Page: 1
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7A newsletter
from TxDOT's
Environmental Affairs
Division
Volume 3, Issue 2 Fall 1997 12 Pages
Pelicans start new nesting colony
By KIM JENKINS The expedition was initiated by an aggressive approach to the problem. One
Environmental Affairs Division increase in the number of area pelicans measure was the construction of
The Eastern Brown Pelican is the and, in turn, a rising mortality rate of the changeable message signs at each end of
subspecies of brown pelican common to birds on the Queen Isabella Causeway. the bridge. In addition to other uses, such
the Texas Gulf Coast. This species Before 1995, TxDOT experimented with as hurricane evacuation information, the
(Pelicanus occidentalis carolensi) is methods to keep pelicans from being signs alert motorists when weather
currently listed as endangered by the U.S. struck by vehicles crossing the causeway. conditions are favorable for pelicans to
Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and The speed limit on the causeway was land on the causeway (when a norther
the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department lowered and flashing signs were installed moves through the area), or when brown
(TPWD). The Texas Department of to warn drivers when conditions are likely pelicans are obstructing the roadway.
Transportation (TxDOT) organized an to cause pelicans to land on the bridge. Streamers were placed on some of the
expedition this summer to investigate But the problem of pelicans landing on the bridge light poles to test whether the
whether a new nesting colony for brown causeway continued to increase. additional noise and movement would
pelicans had been established in the In the summer of 1995, out of concern cause the pelicans to fly higher and avoid
Laguna Madre area of the Gulf Coast. for both motorists and the endangered any down drafts that might pull them to
Members of the expedition included bird, meetings were held between TxDOT, the bridge. Also, Velma Garcia of the
representatives from TxDOT, the Texas regulatory agencies and private citizens. See PELICANS, Page 3
Transportation Institute (TTI) and TPWD. Those meetings resulted in a moreEPA rules
for air
tightened
By BILL KNOWLES
Environmental Affairs Division
The Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) has revised the
National Ambient Air Quality
Standards (NAAQS) for ozone
and particulate matter (PM2.5
and PM10), a change likely to
push the Austin, San Antonio
and Tyler-Longview-Marshall
areas into nonattainment status
for ozone. The new NAAQS
went into effect Sept. 16.
The new ozone standard was
changed from 120 parts per
billion (ppb), averaged over a 1-
hour period and not to be
exceeded more than three times
in three years, to 80 ppb
averaged over an 8-hour period.
See EPA, Page 8El Paso saves money,
avoids lead paint with
I-10 overlay projectBy BLANCA DEL VALLE
El Paso District
On April 22, 1996, the El
Paso District began one of its
most challenging construction
projects. The project saved
taxpayers millions, was
environmentally sensitive and
now provides a pleasant,
aesthetic drive.
The I-10 Downtown
Reconstruction Project
involved overlaying the
existing roadway with a new
6.5 inch concrete road surface.
TxDOT implemented a new
concrete overlay process over
a one-mile stretch through the
El Paso downtown area. This
new process saved taxpayers
millions of dollars, costing
about $35 per yard, almost halfof what a full-depth pavement
would cost. The new overlay
process dried more quickly
than a full-depth concrete
pavement, 24 hours compared
to a full week for the usual
process.
This depressed corridor was
resurfaced to preserve and
maintain the life of the original
1960s pavement. A by-product
of the first opportunity in 30
years to close the main lanes of
the freeway for construction
purposes was the inspection of
all 13 overpasses and utility
bridges. While the structural
evaluation of the bridges was
satisfactory, the existing silver
gray paint that coated the steel
See EL PASO, Page 8n this issue
Pelicans
start new
nesting area,
Page 3
ISTEA
update,
Page 4
TXDOT's
80 years,
Part 2,
Pages 6-7
Plus Puzzles,
Pages 10-11
Upcoming Pages
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Texas. Department of Transportation. ENVision, Volume 3, Issue 2, Fall 1997, periodical, Autumn 1997; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth606838/m1/1/?q=%22%22~1: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.